It was the best of times, it was the worst of times. It was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness. It was the Spring Autumn of hope, it was the Winter of despair. Or rather, it was the Autumn 2015 anime season, it was the Winter 2016 anime season. Never have I seen such a stark, significant contrast in the types and content of anime between consecutive seasons, but we’re following up arguably the best anime season in recent memory with quite possibly the worst. If you haven’t checked, now might be a good time to see why I am so crestfallen with the anime airing this winter.

As always, the order of anime listed below is neither chronological nor alphabetic but are categorized into sequels and new shows, and then ranked in order of my personal anticipation and how likely I believe I will watch that anime this season. Every anime is evaluated and placed into one of five tiers ordered: Will watch, Likely watch, Maybe watch, Doubtful but it gets a shot, and No dice. Within each tier, the anime are listed alphabetically. Dates are not included because who knows when and where these shows will be subbed and available to watch… and really, that’s the most important date to know.

After a blockbuster Autumn season, which saw the return of 22 anime franchises, Winter 2016 welcomes back only 11 continuations and spinoffs. However, a number of these shows are respectable or popular, so I’m certain a number of fans are excited to see some of their favorites returning in such a light season. Returning this month are: Akagami no Shirayuki-hime 2, Assassination Classroom 2, Durarara!!x2 Ketsu, Fairy Tail Zero, Gate: Enryuu-Hen, Ketsuekigata-kun! 4, Koyomimonogatari, Mahou Tsukai Precure!, Nurse Witch Komugi-chan R, Schwarzesmarken, and Teekyuu S7.  Seeing as I haven’t watched some of the originals to these anime, I will obviously skip them and recommend you check out the originals if you’re interested in any of these franchises. Instead, this section is reserved for the anime that I will be continuing this winter, with PVs, thoughts, and assessments for each.

Durarara!!x2 Ketsu

Opinion: The third season of Durarara!!x2 airs this season, thus concluding the three cour sequel to the original Durarara!! of 2010. While I continue to cherish Durarara!! as a franchise, I can’t help but feel a bit disappointed with the quality that we’ve seen from Studio Shuka, the newly formed anime studio that was created just for Durarara!!. On one hand, I’m very thankful for the return of the franchise and am anticipating that this season will be the best of the three sequels, but that I wished Brains Base just continued with it when it had the time and resources. That and finishing Spice and Wolf, too. But, back to Durarara!!x2 Ketsu, I am expecting this to be the best of the three in the x2 series given that Shuka has had two dress rehearsals and is now about to reach the climax of this second (or fifth?) season.

Plans for this show: Will watch

Koyomimonogatari

Opinion: Koyomimonogatari will be a series of 12 ONAs (original net animations) that recount various stories about our protagonist, Koyomi Araragi. And while some might be disenchanted by the web format for an anime, fear not as quite a few reputable franchises have produced successful online anime. It’s difficult to say how successful this will be in comparison to the other anime of the Monogatari Series, but I am excited and eager for more from this franchise.

Plans for this show: Will watch

Teekyuu S7

Opinion: I love Teekyuu, but can we get OP5 back?

Plans for this show: Will watch

Nurse Witch Komugi-chan R

Opinion: I watched Nurse Witch Komugi-chan Magikarte and Nurse Witch Komugi-chan Magikarte Z way back in 2006 and 2007. Back then, I really didn’t know what I was getting into but some friends liked it and I love comedies, so I figured it couldn’t hurt. And while the original series didn’t leave any physical pain, I’ve always remembered never really liking Komugi-chan as an anime. I don’t have really any fond memories of the series, especially since I didn’t get all the Soul Taker references, the 2ch jokes, throwing the Colonel Sanders statue in the river, and all the other otaku humor. Well, I’ve watched anime for 10 consecutive years and am interested in giving this old franchise a try again. I’m not expecting too much given my previous experience with this series, but I do like that Akio Watanabe’s character designs look more like Grisaia (sexy) than Popotan (moe) this time around.

Plans for this show: Maybe watch

Schwarzesmarken

Opinion: Schwarzesmarken is a spinoff in the Muv-Luv franchise, so I’ll be heading into this anime with a very limited knowledge of the setting and whether the characters are tributes or references or continuations from other Muv-Luvs. Nevertheless, I feel that it might be one of the better anime this season, especially considering the content in the PV and the fact that it’s a respected, established mecha franchise. However, I still don’t know too much about the anime or setting, so I’ll be keeping it here and remain cautious about it heading into the first episode.

Plans for this show: Doubtful but it gets a shot

The following two sections of the preview contains a list of all the new, original anime that will debut during the Winter 2016 anime season, with the first section on the anime I am planning on screening and the latter section the anime I have already rejected.

Oh right, wasn’t I complaining about Winter 2016 earlier? Yeah, that’s right, I lead off this Season Preview with such coldhearted remarks. Well, you’re about to see why. Winter 2016 is extremely light in terms of the anime that I’m interested in. I mean, after going through the entire season and watching every PV and reading every synopsis and researching each crew… I’m left with this. Now, that doesn’t mean there won’t be anything good from this list because a few could content with any anime season, but that the list is so small and so unpredictable that I just can’t help but feel disappointed with this season. Nevertheless, here’s what I’m excited for when the Winter 2016 anime season starts:

Boku Dake ga Inai Machi (ERASED)

Opinion: Boku Dake ga Inai Machi is pretty much the only new anime that I’m actually looking forward to this season. The synopsis is easily the most striking and memorable among the new anime this season, documenting the journey of a man who is able to travel back in time and prevent catastrophes or deaths from occurring. That type of original story caught my attention, and the art and animation are quite appropriate for a serious, psychological, mystery anime. The only major issue that I can forecast for this anime is the directing, storytelling, and pacing, which has been an issue in the past with serious anime, and even with a veteran staff.

Plans for this show: Likely watch

Active Raid

Opinion: I typically enjoy anime revolving around police units, and I typically enjoy anime with mecha in them, so Active Raid is doing well so far. Where it lacks, is particularly noticeable from its PV, where it doesn’t feature too much character animation and only on faces talking or with basic emotions. I don’t see this anime being particularly special or significant, but it should still be a meaningful watch, so long as it’s fun.

Plans for this show: Doubtful but it gets a shot

Ajin: Demi-Human

Opinion: The storytelling and writing will make or break Ajin given its premise and style based off the PV. I don’t think an anime there’s much error or deviation from this type of theme, where immortals are hunted down like monsters in a dark, mystery, horror-type setting thingy. And, for what it’s worth, this type of setting is far from my favorite. The content of this anime will dictate whether I keep it or not, so it might get a few episodes depending on how fast or slow the start is.

Plans for this show: Doubtful but it gets a shot

Ao no Kanata no Four Rhythm

Opinion: Uh, so it’s a school anime… but with flying shoes. Oh yes, and the girls have really short miniskirts, so prepare for pantyshots in every episode. So while Ao no Kanata doesn’t look particularly impressive or distinctive, it might be worthwhile if it has decent chemistry or above-average comedy. Unfortunately, I don’t think it’ll have either, but it deserved an episode after a satisfactory PV.

Plans for this show: Doubtful but it gets a shot

Bubuki Buranki

Opinion: Given the limited information on the anime, I find it hard to get a good read on whether this will be good or not. I want to err on the side of caution given some of the clips from the PV looking a bit… too overdramatic in the PV, but it really depends on the mood and timing in the anime. I’m not too excited over the characters, story, or setting, but it deserves an episode or two to convince me otherwise.

Plans for this show: Doubtful but it gets a shot

Dagashi Kashi

Opinion: Dagashi Kashi seems to be a solid comedy with a distinguishing art style and intriguing setting to match, so it seems like a promising choice… but like every comedy, it depends on a number of factors, with the most important being whether I laugh or smile or not. An episode or two would be enough to know whether the comedy is strong enough to keep me entertained or not for the season.

Plans for this show: Doubtful but it gets a shot

Dimension W

Opinion: It’s never a good sign when there’s an info dump in the PV, but the latter half of the PV – the part with the actual animation – is interesting enough. Perhaps the best attribute of this anime is its style and atmosphere, thanks primarily to its art and animation. The story and characters don’t excite me too much right now, but an episode or two will give them the opportunity to convince me on whether I should keep this anime or not.

Plans for this show: Doubtful but it gets a shot

Hai to Gensou no Grimgar (Grimgar of Fantasy and Ash)

Opinion: The PV doesn’t answer a questions, but gives enough material to warrant an episode. The new style of fantasy anime where it’s MMORPG based and whatnot has been fairly awful, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t any good MMORPG-style anime out there, but I haven’t been satisfied with that genre. Hai to Gensou no Grimgar will have a chance, but it doesn’t look good.

Plans for this show: Doubtful but it gets a shot

Haruchika: Haruta to Chika wa Seishun Suru

Opinion: I watched Tari Tari and liked it, so I might like this since the two are on a similar wavelength (same studio, some of the same staff). I will admit, I am concerned about the cheap animation from the PV, and the cookie-cutter cast, making me think it’ll be inferior to Tari Tari, but it’ll get an episode or two to prove me wrong or at least prove it’s worth keeping this season.

Plans for this show: Doubtful but it gets a shot

Koukaku no Pandora: Ghost Urn (TV)

Opinion: Koukaku no Pandora appears to be an ecchi, action, comedy with robot girls befriending each other and fighting whatever. It sounds very much like my kind of anime, but I can’t help this sinking feeling that I’ll be pretty bad. Still, I want to give it a few episodes to see if I can handle watching it or if it’s not really my style after all.

Plans for this show: Doubtful but it gets a shot

Mahou Shoujo Nante Mou Ii Desu Kara

Opinion: Mahou Shoujo Nante Mou Ii Desu Kara is a short anime about a girl who becomes a magical girl wearing a bikini. I am not expecting anything more to its story or characters than that fact, so sure, why not?

Plans for this show: Doubtful but it gets a shot

Ooya-san wa Shishunki!

Opinion: This is another short anime and, as long as this is funny, I wouldn’t mind picking this up for a few minutes each week.

Plans for this show: Doubtful but it gets a shot

Shouwa Genroku Rakugo Shinjuu

Opinion: Of all the new anime this season, I am the most curious about this one. The synopsis is rather quite unique with an ex-prisoner, Yotarou, pursuing a career as an entertainer (rakugo). The anime seems to be quite complex, too, as it grapples with Yotarou’s stigmata as a former prisoner back in society, his romance with the daughter of a famous performer, and Yotarou realizing his love for storytelling. That’s three very distinct narratives in one anime. I’ll be interested to see how this performs. However, it does seem rather slow and easy, so I’m not sure whether I’ll be interested in every episode moving forward or bored with each episode. An episode or two will give me an idea of the storytelling and pace, which should be enough to decide whether to keep or drop.

Plans for this show: Doubtful but it gets a shot

The first two sections confirm the lists of anime that I am planning on watching based on my knowledge and understanding of the shows. All that remains in this season preview are the anime that I have already decided against. The reason why these anime are slotted here is because they either appear to already be flawed, boring, or simply outside my demographic. While these anime may in fact be watchable to some, they do not appear watchable for me. I doubt I’ll examine these anime any more than the PV linked in their sections. However, there’s always a chance for me to pick one or two up every season, so not all hope is lost for these shows if you see one of your favorites down here. However, for most of them, there’s already zero chance I’ll even think about them after writing my opinions for each.

Divine Gate

Opinion: Something about school age kids that reach a gate that opens to the underworld. This doesn’t interest me at all.

Plans for this show: No dice

Kono Danshi, Mahou ga Oshigoto Desu.

Opinion: You don’t even need to click Play to know why I won’t watch this.

Plans for this show: No dice

Kono Subarashii Sekai ni Syukufuku o!

Opinion: I thought I dropped this anime a few already. Wait… this is different than the other ones? How is it different than the other ones?

Plans for this show: No dice

Luck and Logic

Opinion: Some of the girls have pretty crazy character designs, but otherwise, this really isn’t the type of anime that I’d enjoy.

Plans for this show: No dice

Myriad Colors Phantom World

Opinion: It’s weird seeing Kyoto Animation’s name on such an ecchi anime. What won’t be weird is me not watching this.

Plans for this show: No dice

Nijiiro Days

Opinion: Hurray, another anime where you can tell why I dropped it without clicking play. How nice of these PVs to make it so easy for us.

Plans for this show: No dice

Norn9: Norn+Nonette

Opinion: So wait… the anime said it has 9 guys and only 3 girls? That must be a typo.

Plans for this show: No dice

Oshiete! Galko-chan

Opinion: The only anime I’ve watched from Studio feel. are Fortune Arterial and Bikini Warriors. When I’ve skipped everything else, the chances don’t look good for Galko-chan.

Plans for this show: No dice

Phantasy Star Online 2 the Animation

Opinion: So, it’s an anime about people playing an MMORPG rather than about the MMORPG itself? This isn’t the direction I want this genre to go in.

Plans for this show: No dice

Prince of Stride Alternative

Opinion: An all-male track anime? No thanks, especially when I haven’t finished Battle Athletes Victory yet.

Plans for this show: No dice

Reikenzan

Opinion: Maybe when more information comes out about this, but passing for now.

Plans for this show: No dice

Saijaku Muhai no Bahamut

Opinion: Are you still clicking play on the videos? Sometimes, the thumbnail is more than enough.

Plans for this show: No dice

Sekko Boys

Opinion: A lot of people on Twitter will rave about how this show is hilarious but don’t listen to them.

Plans for this show: No dice

Shoujo-tachi wa Kouya wo Mezasu

Opinion: Something about people developing a gal game and yup, there’s where I said no, too.

Plans for this show: No dice

And with that said, there is nothing left to preview for the Winter 2016 anime season. The next step will be to watch and assess each of the new anime coming out, which should be happening shortly. I’ll be providing my reviews and opinions for most of these anime in my First Impressions posts once each these shows debut. Until that time, I hope everyone enjoys the start of a new anime season!

This post reviews: Musaigen no Phantom World, Haruchika: Haruta to Chika wa Seishun Suru, Active Raid, and Boku Dake ga Inai Machi.

Given the lighter line-up this Winter and the fact that my life is calming down, I plan to return to publishing Weekly Anime posts on a regular basis after taking most of 2015 off. However, everything is still tentative right now but things look better this season than any time since Summer 2014.

Watching:

Boku Dake ga Inai Machi (ERASED)

Boku Dake ga Inai Machi is certainly one of the most promising anime of the season and easily has the most potential of the shows I’ve watched thus far. What I passionately enjoyed about Boku Dake ga Inai Machi is its attention to detail and its consistency among its themes, both of which are hallmarks to superb directing. The angles and durations of the shots, particularly when Satoru reunites with Sachiko and again when those two and Airi have curry, are particularly powerful at establishing mood, dialogue, and chemistry between the characters rather than on the individual characters themselves. You even see it in quick shots, too, such as when the truck is about to hit the young boy in the crosswalk (angled down to make him look scared and powerless) or in the hospital room (Satoru was in the light the whole time, Airi was in the shadow). Furthermore, the theme of children is consistent throughout the first episode, especially during the two time loops when Satoru and Sachiko search their settings. These are the signs of a director with a vision for this anime, so it’s particularly delightful that Boku Dake ga Inai Machi has such robust writing and dialogue to support this vision. Given the conversations thus far, the characters feel more human than archetypes, and the way they talk sounds natural rather than scripted. And in terms of the art work, I find the character designs to be extremely enjoyable, especially since they can make a 52-year old mother look like that. Boku Dake ga Inai Machi is an anime with a sturdy skeleton (writing), a solid exterior (art), and an insightful brain (directing). All the parts are here to make this be a successful anime, and I’m very curious to see what it can do this winter.

Undecided:

Musaigen no Phantom World

Although I initially passed on Musaigen no Phantom World after watching the PV and reading the synopsis, my morbid curiosity got the best of me, and I watched the first episode. And though my original thoughts were spot-on, that it’d be a rather shallow, ecchi anime, I was wrong on how I’d react to it: I didn’t hate it. Instead, I found myself enjoying bits and pieces of the episode, which essentially was the opening fight and one or two jokes elsewhere. Musaigen no Phantom World really does well with everything visual, so the anime is fun to watch if you like fighting and ecchi content, but the story is incredibly shallow and the characters are uninspiring. I don’t think there’s anything more to this anime than what we saw in the first episode with a schoolgirl beating up some monster in her buruma or bouncing her giant breasts to defeat another. If the anime can manages to improve in episode 2 and feature something other than constant fanservice, I might keep it, but otherwise, I’ll place this anime back where it belongs.

Haruchika: Haruta to Chika wa Seishun Suru

The first episode of Haruchika was tolerable at best and boring at worst, so it’ll get another episode before I decide whether to keep this anime or not. Haruchika didn’t do any one thing particularly well, but features satisfactory writing, a charming art style, and a main character strong enough to carry the anime when nothing’s happening. Where Haruchika could improve is… nothing really happened at all this episode. In fact, it was a rather lame start to the series since the whole mystery never really was resolved as the whole exchange is between a character that never comes back and another who barely even shows up. I find the setting to be a strong negative in an anime like this given that… it’s another school club anime that offers nothing new. However, the anime kept my attention span focused for a majority of the episode, and no, that wasn’t due to Chika’s hypnotic eyes (thought that may be part of it). I am curious to see whether this anime improves or if we’ll go through 4 episodes of introducing new characters with weird mini-mysteries each time and slowly “working” (you need to use sarcasm when talking about a romance progressing in an anime) on the love triangle between Chika, Haruta, and Kusakabe-sensei. And no, I don’t know for sure whether Haruchika will do this or not, but I’ve seen enough mediocre anime to know where this is going.

Dropped:

Active Raid

I had some hope that Active Raid might be decent, given that it’s a police anime with mecha and a catchy OP song… but no, Active Raid is outstandingly awful. Yes, even I’m impressed at how bad the first episode of Active Raid was. Nothing, absolutely nothing in this anime works. For example, the characters all have strong, conflicting personalities but the writing does no favors and they come across as exaggerated and theatrical when paired or grouped with each other. Another is that the process and policies of the police unit makes no sense given that the criminals killed probably a dozen police officers and they only sent 2 people out to talk to them. Yet another is the art. Are the characters able to show emotions with their faces? The art was subpar at best, but the faces struggled to show even the slightest bit of reaction with everyone looking bored and uninterested from start to finish. The silver lining with that, though, is that I could always remember the emotion I felt when watching Active Raid: bored and uninterested from start to finish. But yeah, I like the OP song, so it’s not all bad for Active Raid… and fortunately, I can listen to it any time I want without needing to bother with another episode of Active Raid again!

This post reviews: Tabi Machi Late Show, Koukaku no Pandora, Shouwa Genroku Rakugo Shinjuu, Dagashi Kashi, Bubuki Buranki, and Nurse Witch Komugi-chan R.

Winter 2016 is turning out better than I imagined, though only slightly. As you can see from this post, I had a rather positive experience with this batch of anime. The real question will be on how this season performs beyond this first week, but it seems to be in good shape going forward. I hope to have the third and final First Impressions post out soon.

Watching:

Tabi Machi Late Show

I’m not sure whether I should comment on short anime or not, but considering the lack of attention on Tabi Machi Late Show, why not give this anime some acknowledgement? Tabi Machi Late Show is one of the three 7-minute anime that airs alongside Oshiete! Galko-chan and Sekkou Boys, but unlike those two, Tabi Machi Late Show is a slow-cooked and heartwarming series of mini-dramas. There’s not much substance to the anime, as the primary theme is on “journeys” and “farewells”, so it doesn’t have a strong, central narrative to build off of. However, what it lacks in content, it makes up for with its style, given its aesthetics and picture-book animation style. There’s not much going for Tabi Machi Late Show; it’s not like you’ll miss anything significant or remarkable if you don’t watch it. However, it’s a light, simple, and easy watch that might go well when paired with a blanket and some hot cocoa, if you think that might be your style this winter.

Koukaku no Pandora

Please don’t judge me.

Koukaku no Pandora is the kind of brainless, stupid, fun anime that I typically enjoy. There’s no groundbreaking story or inspiring characters in Pandora, but the anime is incredibly cute and charming given its female robot cast and predominately chibi art style. It could do without the ecchi fanservice, such as the location of the F port by Clarion’s panties (so that’s why they’re so low), but it does capitalize off some of these scenes with halfway decent jokes. The overall comedy is rather mediocre, but it fits in with this lighthearted setting and art style. I don’t think I can really comment on the storytelling or character development at this point because… I don’t think there’ll be any. I’m not expecting much from Pandora over the course of this season, but as long as it continues to be a cute, chibi comedy about robot girl best friends… fighting for world peace or something? (I honestly wasn’t paying attention)… it’s worth watching.

Shouwa Genroku Rakugo Shinjuu

Shouwa Genroku Rakugo Shinjuu bleeds brilliance and magnificence in this sincere drama about an ex-con restarting his life as a rakugo performer. What inspired me the most about this first episode is that, rather than be bound by the chains of traditional TV anime, Shouwa Genroku extended its length from 24 to 48 minutes, to complete its story. Really, there were no good stopping points in this first episode, so rather than splitting it into two and ruining the pacing and storytelling, Shouwa Genroku opted to continue seamlessly, providing an uninterrupted experience. From that alone, you can tell that Shouwa Genroku is dedicated to its story and its characters. And of note, each of the three primary characters has their own individual story or purpose worth following, with each seeking a defined and different goal that will interweave with the others. Not to mention, the art and aesthetics are solid, especially with this color palette and use of lighting. And though I do have some things to nitpick about this first episode, such as Yakumo denying Yotarou but then almost immediately accepting him back three times, they’re trivial matters in the grand scheme of things. The first episode of Shouwa Genroku was nothing short of magnificent, but I can’t help wonder where it’ll go from here. Still, this first episode was more than reason enough to want to continue this anime, and I certainly hope everyone gives this first episode a try.

Dagashi Kashi

Comedies depend greatly on the humor, but also on the delivery, and what makes Dagashi Kashi such a delightful anime is that it has the right style of delivery with Hotaru as the lead female. Really, Hotaru carries the anime with her childish, colorful, and loud style, which is a bright and brilliant contrast compared to the dull, rural townsfolk like Kokonotsu and Saya. And it wouldn’t be right if I didn’t mention the father, too, You, but his involvement in the first episode wasn’t as inspiring as Hotaru. I do wonder how well the anime will perform if Hotaru or You are gone for any extended duration because it was only “okay” without them versus “hilarious” with them. As for the content of the comedy, the candy store-themed story is nice, but it’s a bit difficult to appreciate considering that all the snacks and candies are ones that I am not familiar with. Still, I smiled and laughed watching the first episode and that’s usually the criteria I go by when picking out comedy anime. As far as the other criteria, Dagashi Kashi has quite a pleasant aesthetic choice, and I’m always interested in a rural setting, so those are obvious positives. I do wonder how ecchi the anime will be considering the fanservice in the first episode, but it really isn’t a problem right now. Dagashi Kashi is an easy decision for me this season. This might actually evolve into one of my favorite anime of the season depending on how the comedy develops.

Undecided:

Bubuki Buranki

Bubuki Buranki is an anime with two halves: the first half with the family isolated in a fantasy world with menacing robots and magical powers and the second half with a quintet of teenagers in a modern Japanese setting fighting with mecha-monster-things against an adult with a mecha-monster-thing. First, I’d be lying if this didn’t immediately evoke images of Kamisama Dolls, and second, why did Bubuki Buranki have to leave that fantasy realm? As I mentioned, Bubuki Buranki’s first episode had two distinct halves, and though you could label them by their settings or before-and-after, I think of them as the “good” half and the “meh” half. The start of Bubuki Buranki was outstanding and impressive, showcasing the struggles of a growing family in a bleak and desolate world filled with sleeping killer robots. If the anime were just that, I’d be watching it, no question. However, the second half of the episode is what I expect the rest of the anime to be, about a group of kids fighting society as the kids try to return home or something shounen-sounding like that. It… it really failed to inspire me and I wonder whether Bubuki Buranki can recapture the magic it lost with that dazzling first half. I’ll need to see another episode to determine whether it’s worth keeping or not, so I’ll be interested to see where it goes from here and what it tries to do. However, given the direction it’s heading in, I probably won’t keep it around for much longer.

Nurse Witch Komugi-chan R

So… this is nothing like the original Komugi-chan anime. Whereas the original anime had passionate comedy and cuter, moe characters with personalities, Komugi-chan R has neither and feels like a watered-down and bland reimagining of Nurse Witch Komugi-chan Magikarte. Like, in the original, they had an episode to Komugi-chan getting killed by a truck and spending the episode as a ghost watching as how everyone’s lives improved after she was gone. …I don’t see that here. I also don’t see the otaku humor, like parodies of 2chan and other anime like I did in the original. And the animation… I know Akio Watanabe did the character designs for both, but the original was so much brighter and more appealing… while this one just feels boring and generic. And where are all the references to The Soultaker, the original anime that allowed for the spinoff of the Nurse Witch Komugi-chan franchise? I seriously doubt that I will keep this considering that I enjoyed the original so much more, 8 years ago, and I’d recommend going back and watching that instead of this. I’ll give it one more episode to see where this goes since it does have some significant changes from the original, like Tsukasa, but I don’t think it’s worth my time this season.

Dropped:

Nothing from this batch, though a final decision remains for the two in the Undecided category.

This post reviews: Hai to Gensou no Grimgar, Dimension W, Schwarzesmarken, Ao no Kanata no Four Rhythm, Kono Subarashii Sekai ni Shukufuku wo!, and Ajin: Demi-Human.

Since I do not write weekly posts for the second week of the season, primarily because many shows air their first episodes in that time, I’ll just provide a brief update on my thoughts on the second week here since this is so late. Most of the anime that impressed me in Week 1 have regressed a bit in Week 2, save for Boku Dake ga Inai Machi which is easily the best new show of the season. Of the sequels, Durarara!!x2 Ketsu is opening to a strong start, and I appreciate the change in direction for Utawarerumono: Itsuwari no Kamen. Still, I am a little disappointed in the performance of some of the new anime that I am keeping, but it’s only the second week of the season. Who knows, maybe one of these anime below will end up being the most impressive and most improved of the season? Let’s see just what I’m planning to do with these shows this season…

Watching:

Nothing here, not with these anime today.

Undecided:

Hai to Gensou no Grimgar

There are quite a few shining qualities to Hai to Gensou no Grimgar, but there’s an equal amount of concern after watching the first episode. For the positives, first and foremost is the art, which features stunning and picturesque backgrounds as vibrant watercolor paintings over pencil sketch outlines. Furthermore, the use of various lighting brings out depth in these shots, building the setting to feel like a world that the people live in rather than just a layer of things behind the walking, talking characters. The second positive worth mentioning is the personality and demeanor of the fantasy world. While there are literally a dozen modern-teenage-kids-stuck-in-fantasy-world anime these days, Hai to Gensou no Grimgar feels genuine given that the kids are inexperienced and awful at combat… which is what you’d expect given the situation they’re facing. I’ve enjoyed it thoroughly in the first half, during the goblin battle. The latter half is where things started to drop off and the drawbacks of Hai to Gensou no Grimgar revealed themselves. Of note are the characters and the writing. It appears that the main party of this anime will be the six characters that were featured in the second half of the episode, which is my primary concern with this anime… I’m bored with them at best and am irate with them at worst. Of course, the anime has a chance to redeem itself if a few of these characters die, but considering that this is the core unit, I can’t feel inspired with any of these kids. Then again, that might be the fault of the writing which paints these characters as plain and basic. The dialogue doesn’t help either, as it is easily the most discordant and displeasing element of the anime. Fortunately for me, the art and setting are likely to remain unchanged, and there’s always a chance that the characters and writing improve. I’ll likely give this another episode or two to see if it picks up, but I don’t think I’ll keep it the introduction was a fluke and the anime progresses on and on like the second half of this episode.

Dimension W

What leaves me uncertain with Dimension W is that, in the first episode, the two main characters were separated throughout whereas the rest of the series will have these two characters paired together. With such little time to see them interact together, other than their rousing fight, it’s hard to judge their chemistry together and how they’ll function as a team together. Fortunately, the two seem to be fine when they were independent of each other, each having their own stories and struggles, though I do hope Mira isn’t whiny and mopey throughout following the death of her father. One of my primary concerns moving forward is that I fear the anime will be formulaic each week, with the two characters looking for illegal coils each week and slowly moving toward their individual goals… but I’ll cross that bridge when I get to it. The other remaining elements do point in the right direction, such as the visuals, the directing, the setting, and the sound, but they’re not enough to convince me to keep it after this one episode. Once I can see how the characters function when they’re teamed-up together and whether this anime follows a set formula each week, then I’ll make a decision on whether to keep this or not. But, for now, it’s undecided.

Schwarzesmarken

Of all the anime this season, Schwarzesmarken is the hardest to read. I watched it, and… really could not formulate an opinion or initial impression. And no, I wasn’t bored with it either, especially during the mecha battle to start, but I felt emotionally detached from everything going on. I did not feel much of anything after the first episode either and desperately need a second to figure out what I want to do with this anime. Hopefully then, will I have enough of an impression and enough information to decide whether I want to keep this or not.

Kono Subarashii Sekai ni Shukufuku wo!

Kono Subarashii Sekai ni Shukufuku wo! is a perfect example of how chemistry and comedy between characters is certain to catch my attention. What I enjoy the most about Kono Subarashii Sekai ni Shukufuku wo! is that it’s strengths are the two most important qualities of an anime for me: the characters and the setting. With the main duo possessing strong personalities and fascinating charisma, I find their interactions and exchanges to be charming and amusing, a real joy to watch. The fantasy setting is another strength too, with its obvious tribute to fantasy JRPGs, and the directing has been superb given its pacing, especially with that montage at the end. However, I do want to see more before committing to this anime, considering that they plan to add two more characters who have the potential to destroy the outstanding chemistry between Kazuma and Aqua. Beyond that, I am curious how the story develops now that everything is set and the two are stuck in this fantasy realm. I will admit that the art and animation are a bit subpar considering the quality here versus some of the other shows I’m keeping this season, but that is not reason enough to drop it. I think after one more episode, I’ll end up keeping this, unless the new characters spoil the chemistry between Kazuma and Aqua or if the story goes to shit and becomes a harem or something stupid.

Dropped:

Ao no Kanata no Four Rhythm

Although Ao no Kanata no Four Rhythm is being dropped, I am still considering it as a candidate for watching on 4x this season. To put it bluntly, I enjoyed bits and pieces of Ao no Kanata, but the overall product was a snore, and I don’t think it’ll get better given what the rest of the series holds. However, I figure if the anime were a short, like a 5- or 7-minute anime, I might consider keeping it around given its cute, fun characters and the flying shoes gimmick. Because of that, I’ll considering watching the episodes on 4x and hope that cures the tedium that overshadowed this first episode.

As for the first episode, it progressed similar to Asuka’s training, with many ups and many downs (but no heroic win at the end, unfortunately). The cast is above-average for these types of anime, and I do enjoy that the focus of the anime is on Asuka and not a male lead. I found the setting and style to be charming more than not, with the comedy and chibi art being highlights and the flying shoes to be mildly interesting, piquing my curiosity to how they’ll use it for themes and its story. That being said, I couldn’t help but find myself generally bored throughout. Maybe I’m just burnt out from trying two dozen anime in about a week, but I had trouble genuinely caring about the characters and their story. And, because of that, I think it might be a decent candidate to 4x this season since I can pretty much skip most of the text and whatnot and enjoy what I enjoyed with this first episode. I know, it’s not the best option, but it’s better than the alternative and being done with it right here and now.

Ajin: Demi-Human

Ajin: Demi-Human actually had a decent first episode, but until a dependable subber releases it regularly, there’s no point in trying to watch Ajin this season. Until that happens, I might as well consider this dropped from the list.

For Week 3: gushing about the setting of Shouwa Genroku Rakugo Shinjuu, questioning Satoru’s treatment of Hiromi in Boku Dake ga Inai Machi, a personality shift with a positive cause in Dimension W, and highlighting the brilliant animation in Kono Subarashii Sekai ni Shukufuku wo!

Best episode of the week: Boku Dake ga Inai Machi

Anime trending up this week: Shouwa Genroku Rakugo Shinjuu

Anime trending down this week: Utawarerumono: Itsuwari no Kamen

Boku Dake ga Inai Machi (Episode 3)

I don’t find it odd that Satoru is completely devoted to saving Kayo, especially with how guilty he feels about her death to the present day, but I am downright perplexed that he doesn’t seem to mention anything about wanting to save Hiromi. After witnessing his relationship with Hiromi at school and learning about his death in relation to the serial kidnappings in 1988, I find it strange that Satoru doesn’t remember Hiromi more than Kayo. From my perspective, I’m curious as to why Satoru doesn’t focus on Hiromi more considering his established relationship with him and the fact that he is one of the victims, too. Then again, Boku Dake ga Inai Machi will address it eventually considering that it brought it up already, so I’m curious to see what Satoru does in order to prevent Hiromi’s death in the past.

Dimension W (Episode 3)

Is it just me or have we seen a dramatic shift in personality for Mira? Given what we saw in the first episode, I figured Mira would be a rather serious and tragic character, what with the circumstances of her father’s death and relationship with Kyouma. But… those are distant memories now with the third episode showing Mira as a playful, young girl who seems to be the butt of jokes more often than not. And would you have expected to have a scene where Kyouma walks in on her while she’s on the toilet after the first episode? It feels like a bait-and-switch to me, but it might be for the best considering that Kyouma is always miserable and cheerless. Too much of that emotion would have anchored Dimension W down, so it’s for the best that Mira has evolved and become the sunshine in Dimension W.

Durarara!!x2 Ketsu (Episode 3)

The chances are high that every new person you meet on the streets of Ikebukuro is stronger than the last. I mean, it seems like every new character they introduce in Durarara!!x2 is stronger than the last, and the fighters that we expected to be indomitable are now breakfast for whomever shows up next. Then again, that’s often how things progress, as it really isn’t much of a challenge if the new characters are wimps… but it’s still remarkable given the size of the cast and the number of outstanding fighters that we’ve seen since the very first episode back in 2010. Still, I’m willing to bet we haven’t seen the strongest fighter in the series yet, given that we still have at least 9 more episodes to go.

Kono Subarashii Sekai ni Shukufuku wo! (Episode 2)

Kono Subarashii Sekai ni Shukufuku wo! is turning out to be a pretty fun anime given its setting, its characters, and the humor, but one element that has taken me by surprise has been the art and animation, especially during the attacks. The most notable example from the second episode would be Megumin’s explosive magic. Megumin’s casting of Explosion featured quite an array of colors, lighting, and special effects, giving the magic quite a powerful and exciting flair. But beyond that were Aqua’s attacks which were quite spectacular on their own, and probably would’ve been the highlights of this episode if it weren’t for Explosion. I’m really hoping the art and animation for these spells and attacks keeps up since these have been pleasant additions to an already entertaining anime.

Shouwa Genroku Rakugo Shinjuu (Episode 3)

What can I say? You know that the setting is often my favorite aspect of anime, and I absolutely adore the historical setting of Shouwa Genroku Rakugo Shinjuu, especially with it split between the present and this current flashback. Both eras thrill me given that they’re both extremely underutilized in anime, and you often don’t see prewar and postwar Japan together in a single anime. Even if the story or characters don’t pan out in Shouwa Genroku Rakugo Shinjuu, this will still be one of my favorite anime of the season based on the setting alone. And fortunately for me, the storytelling and perspective thus far have been superb.

For Week 4: adoring the transformation and westernization of the setting in Shouwa Genroku Rakugo Shinjuu, the authenticity, weight, and significance of battles in Hai to Gensou no Grimgar, why the letterbox formatting is my favorite directing decision of Boku Dake ga Inai Machi, and disruption in the sense of community in Durarara!!x2 Ketsu.

Best episode of the week: Boku Dake ga Inai Machi

Anime trending up this week: Hai to Gensou no Grimgar

Anime trending down this week: Dagashi Kashi

Boku Dake ga Inai Machi (Episode 4)

Among all the remarkable directing and aesthetic choices in Boku Dake ga Inai Machi, none are more prominent or ubiquitous than the 2.35:1 letterbox format for the 1988 scenes. Whereas most anime are now produced in the ordinary 16:9 widescreen format, Boku Dake ga Inai Machi alternates between the conventional 16:9 format for scenes in the present (2006) and the unfamiliar, cinematic 2.35:1 format for the past (1988). Furthermore, there are other directing and aesthetic changes that occur between the two settings, but none are more anchoring or pronounced as the aspect ratios. While countless anime take a similar approach in alerting colors, lighting and cinematography between differing timelines, none has taken the same novel approach as Boku Dake ga Inai Machi and used a cinematic format to differentiate between eras. Without the letterbox format, I’m certain that Boku Dake ga Inai Machi would have been successful in representing the past, but the unusual aspect ratio gives it an entirely different feel and helps cement the difference between the past and present. To me, the letterbox format in Boku Dake ga Inai Machi is the most striking and significant aspect of the directing to me. Given how underutilized this cinematographic element is, I am ecstatic to see it being used here and used with a purpose. Boku Dake ga Inai Machi certainly has many other directing and aesthetic elements worth discussing, but none are as fascinating to me as the widescreen formats that we’ve seen between the settings of 1988 and 2006.

Dagashi Kashi (Episode 4)

So…. is that it? Is Dagashi Kashi just one joke, repeated a handful of times each episode, with miniscule variations in delivery but the same swing-and-a-miss conclusion? I get it. Hotaru loves candy, Kokonotsu misinterprets everything Hotaru does as sexual, Saya is jealous, and Tou is an idiot. Is there anything else this anime can do besides candy-related humor? Don’t get me wrong, I’m still enjoying Dagashi Kashi, but the question is how much longer will I enjoy it? I found the first two episodes to be enjoyable, but I’ve noticed my interest and engagement wearing with these last two episodes, and I don’t think Dagashi Kashi has anything planned to recover from this downward trend. It’s almost like the beginning of the series was a sugar high, and now the rest of the series will be the sugar crash.

Dimension W (Episode 4)

I’m not really sure what to think of Dimension W now, what with the gradual change in its comedy and fanservice. After the first episode, I set myself in for a serious, sci-fi, action-adventure between a misfit combo of an old guy who hates technology and a cute, robot-girl sidekick. I didn’t expect that Dimension W would have more naked robot girls than all of Koukaku no Pandora, but it managed to do that in just this episode alone. Now that’s not say that Dimension W is awful; I still and watching it and enjoy it, but these last two episodes of Dimension W feel like a completely different anime than the first two episodes.

Durarara!!x2 Ketsu (Episode 4)

One of the most brilliant aspects about Durarara!! is the size of its cast and its sense of community and social structure. Durarara!! is entirely about a living, breathing city that’s half-populated with weirdos and half-populated with monsters. But as the series has progressed, the characters are starting to feel more and more isolated, as if they’re being grouped into islands with little contact with the other cohorts in Ikebukuro. That may be true given the progression of the story and what is entirely necessary from the storytelling perspective, but I would like to see more interactions between these groups, even if it were merely to be the characters walking past each other on the street during scenes or being in the same restaurant. Of course, that might seem odd considering the size of Ikebukuro and the number of people everywhere, but it would be nice to see some of the other characters who have played smaller roles be featured more considering that this anime is about community and society in general.

Hai to Gensou no Grimgar (Episode 4)

Hai to Gensou no Grimgar is quickly becoming the surprise of the season given how genuine and heavy the anime feels. While I still have a few issues with the series, the positives are overshadowing the negatives, especially in regards to the fights between the characters and the goblins. Not only do the fights feel honest and authentic, with kills coming from hitting vital points rather than reducing hit points to zero, but the scenes feel heavy, with a sense of purpose and being. That and those swords actually carry weight, with how they swing them and how they defend in the fights. You would actually guess they’re made of a heavy, durable metal and not light as a twig, as you might guess from other fantasy anime. But perhaps the greatest aspect of Grimgar, to date, is that death feels substantial and significant… no, let me start over: every death feels substantial and significant. What strikes me as remarkable about Grimgar is that even the monster deaths feel weighty and meaningful. It’s not like other fantasy anime where no one really reflects on the monsters they just killed, there is legitimate thought and feeling behind every action on the battlefield. As a result, Grimgar is astonishing me with its unexpected detail and complexity in battle, and is becoming one of the better anime this winter.

Kono Subarashii Sekai ni Shukufuku wo! (Episode 3)

After being introduced to Megumin and Darkness, numbers 3 and 4 of our main quartet, I’m beginning to wonder if I’d prefer the anime with just Satou and Aqua together than the four main characters together. To me, I enjoyed the simple chemistry between Satou and Aqua, especially with how the two were dysfunctional together at best. Now with Megumin and Darkness, there are more connections, jokes, and material between the characters, but it lessens the wonderful and blessed relationship that Satou and Aqua shared. If it were up to me, I wouldn’t necessarily remove Megumin and Darkness (well, I’m lying, I would remove Darkness), but I wouldn’t have them be part of the main group and just be axially helpers who follow them around and join in their misadventures from time to time. Then again, I’m only three episodes in (in reality, I’m up to date, but for the purposes of reviewing this episode), so I’m not really sure where this anime is going or what it hopes to achieve with these characters. All I know is that I miss the engaging relationship and humor between Satou and Aqua from the first episode and hope that we get it again soon.

Koukaku no Pandora (Episode 4)

I love Clarion’s chibi design. It is the best thing about Pandora, and every week I will write about it will be an excuse for me to post pictures of everyone’s favorite chibi, robot catgirl.

Shouwa Genroku Rakugo Shinjuu (Episode 4)

Easily my favorite aspect of Shouwa Genroku Rakugo Shinjuu is seeing the gradual yet radical transformation that Japan experienced from pre-WWII to post-WWII. The change in the setting is beautiful and mesmerizing, and particularly how nonchalant the characters are over the westernization. Take a look at the backgrounds and you’ll notice changes in architecture, advertising, transportation, and clothing. Take a look at the technology and the modernization of Japan, with electricity and mechanics becoming widespread. Look at just about everything in the setting of Shouwa Genroku Rakugo Shinjuu and you’ll see the shift from traditional Japanese society to a pre-modern Japanese humanity. It’s absolutely breathtaking, especially for someone like me who adores the settings of anime more than just about every other aspect. I honestly can’t remember the last time I enjoyed a setting as much as this, and I am truly thankful that Shouwa Genroku Rakugo Shinjuu has depicted such an important and momentous era in Japanese and world history.

Utawarerumono: Itsuwari no Kamen (Episode 17)

Oh right, this had a story.

What I’ve been hoping since the beginning of Utwarerumono: Itsuwari no Kamen is that the sequel will provide answers to the original Utawarerumono. The original anime certainly had a more engaging story and narrative than this sequel, but the ending felt chaotic and rushed, and never left me satisfied or appreciative of the story, setting, or characters of Utawarereumono. Since finishing the finale of the original almost a decade ago, I’ve always wanted more to the anime, and in a way, a proper conclusion to one of my favorite anime of the 2000s. To say this sequel has been disappointing would be an understatement, but there is still hope it can achieve this very simple and significant goal to me. And with this episode dedicated to the setting, history, and story of Utawarerumono, my faith is restored just enough to think it might actually achieve what I truly want from it. Whether it meets that goal or not still remains, but there are plenty of episodes to address and answer my questions that were left unanswered from the original anime many years ago.

This week: why I detest the style of narration and extended “flashback” in Shouwa Genroku Rakugo Shinjuu, captivation with the advancement in fighting in Hai to Gensou no Grimgar, powerful, simple, and weird shots in Dimension W, and why I consider Koukaku no Pandora to be a slice-of-life anime.

Best episode of the week: Boku Dake ga Inai Machi

Anime trending up this week: Hai to Gensou no Grimgar

Anime trending down this week: Shouwa Genroku Rakugo Shinjuu

Shouwa Genroku Rakugo Shinjuu (Episode 8)

Although there are a number of faults that I can overlook with Shouwa Genroku Rakugo Shinjuu, I cannot forgive the series for this inexcusable “flashback”. There is a rationale and purpose for flashbacks in storytelling, and it doesn’t work when the entire series is devoted to this style or narration. Remember way back in the first episode when we we were introduced to Yotarou and Konatsu, characters who we began to identify with and understand their conflicts? That’s… that’s what this story is about, right? If not, and instead have this story be about Yakumo and Sukeroku, why even have that first episode? Why not start it off when Yakumo and Sukeroku meeting as children and then ending the series with Yakumo saying “I have a long story to tell…”, thus cycling the series back to the beginning with this “flashback”?

To me, a flashback serves a specific purpose when it relates to the immediate story by providing new information or a new perspective that is aided by visual accounts. A flashback is best when it’s short and concise and has an impact on the present. This, however, does not accomplish that. Rather, this flashback has dragged on for 7 episodes now and is clearly a majority of the series. And while I have enjoyed bits and pieces of this “flashback”, I can’t believe that it’s the only story in this anime so far. If it were up to me, I would have restructured the story to provide for specific flashbacks to questions that Yotarou and Konatsu raise to Yakumo, and used that to break-up this flashback into tolerable chunks. “Say, when did you first meet my father?” asks Konatsu. “Well, that’s a funny story…” replies Yakumo. “Have you always loved rakugo, sensei?” queries Yotarou. “No, in fact, I couldn’t stand rakugo at first,” answers Yakumo. “Walking down this street takes me back…” states Yakumo, reminiscing about his past and revealing wounds of his time with Sukeroku and Miyokichi. To me, that would be a more effective style of storytelling for Shouwa Genroku Rakugo Shinjuu and a way to blend the past with the present for all the characters in the anime. Right now, I’m really confused at why we even had that first episode. Why even introduce Yotarou and Kontasu if we’re never going to see them again? It really doesn’t make any sense. And as this “flashback” continues each week, with no account for the present, so too does my depreciation for this anime.

Koukaku no Pandora (Episode 8)

Is Koukaku no Pandora a slice-of-life anime? Given the episodic nature of the anime and given the topics of recent episodes – going to the mall, going to the hospital, being kidnapped by cartoonish villains – it feels like a slice-of-life anime with slightly more action, fanservice, and robots than other anime in this genre. Then again, the focus of Pandora is on the action, fanservice, and robots, so one could argue the opposite and that the slife nature of this anime is a result of the virtually nonexistent central story. But given how bland and boring the story has been, not to mention the fact that the anime seems to enjoy ignoring it, I think the episodic quality is a positive for Pandora. Consider the opposite where every episode is related to BUER and Cenacle Island versus what we have now. Honestly, I don’t think I’d be watching Pandora if it were more structured and centralized around a story. I personally am enjoying the anime because it’s like a slice-of-life anime, only more silly, ecchi, and full of cute robots fighting non-cute robots.

Kono Subarashii Sekai ni Shukufuku wo! (Episode 7)

I am always delighted to see changes or variations in the setting of an anime and found the snowy, wintery weather to be encouraging for Kono Subarashii Sekai ni Shukufuku wo! And while such a change was necessary for the events of the episode, I adore diversity and differences in the setting of an anime, even for subtle changes like the seasons or weather. I mean, before, Subarashii Sekai had generic, unremarkable sunny weather, the kind you see in every anime. For this episode, there was snow on the ground, the sky was dark and cloudy, and everyone wore winter clothes. I know it isn’t much, but it’s a huge plus for me to see a show change or adapt its setting for a story.

Hai to Gensou no Grimgar (Episode 8)

The battles are easily the best aspect of Hai to Gensou no Grimgar, and the evolution and development of their skills, tactics, knowledge and experience has been fascinating and gratifying to watch. And given how this episode was devoted entirely to savagely murdering the goblins to avenge Manato’s death, I couldn’t be more happy with how this anime has grown and how the characters and their battles have developed. However, what worries me going forward is how much the anime will continue to deal with these battles and whether the party will ever move on from these goblins or these ruins. Given that the rest of the anime is touchy-feely with Mary and the others and how they resolved arguably the biggest story of the series, I wonder how much more fighting we’ll see. To me, Grimgar will rise or fall depending on its battles and this episode has taken it to the top. Hopefully it can stay here depending on how the story and the party progresses from here.

Dimension W (Episode 8)

Dimension W is a weird anime, and one of the weird things I want to highlight with this week’s episode is the frequent shots of characters with solid color backgrounds. These types of shots have been used in every episode and are used to highlight the character or a specific moment. By removing the background, these shots put all our focus on the character with only a basic, solid color and a shadow behind. These simple, yet powerful shots are unusual in anime and help add to the unusual nature and style of Dimension W. Honestly, I’ve always loved distinctive cinematography techniques like these in anime, and I hope to see it used in more anime in the future.

Boku Dake ga Inai Machi (Episode 8)

My hope for the ending of Boku Dake ga Inai Machi is that, in the final episode, after everything is resolved in the past – no children are murdered, the killer is arrested and sent to prison, and there are no murders or arsons in the present – that Satoru is still being arrested. Satoru would ask why he is being arrested in the present when he’s not involved with any murders or anything. The police would reply they’re arresting him because he’s a 29-year old guy who traveled back in time to date a 10-year old girl. And Satoru would reply, “…oh, right,” as he heads off to jail.

Back during Week 9: the symbolism of clothing in Shouwa Genroku Rakugo Shinjuu, questioning whether anyone else is ‘special’ in Boku Dake ga Inai Machi, praising the tsukkomis in Dagashi Kashi, and posting pictures of Clarion from Koukaku no Pandora because why not?

Best episode of the week: Boku Dake ga Inai Machi

Anime trending up this week: Osomatsu-san

Anime trending down this week: Hai to Gensou no Grimgar

Shouwa Genroku Rakugo Shinjuu (Episode 9)

Fashion and apparel in Shouwa Genroku Rakugo Shinjuu has been used brilliantly as symbolism to both connect and contrast Yakumo and Sukeroku. Given that anime is a visual medium, clothing has always played a significant role in defining characters and is often used to enhance them by supporting or augmenting their personality, profession, or general appeal. In Shouwa Genroku Rakugo Shinjuu, the clothes play an important yet reserved role in the relationship between Yakumo and Sukeroku. Yakumo has adopted a modern, sophisticated, chic western-style wardrobe, as seen by his clean dress shirts, charcoal grey suit, and black tie. Sukeroku, on the other hand, wears traditional Japanese clothing, such as his typical jinbei. Another inherent difference between the styles is the impression that these clothes give, with Yakumo appearing to be wealthy and upper-class while Sukeroku appears as an ordinary commoner. Not only does it symbolize a contrast between their personalities, but their clothes also denote the success that Yakumo is realizing in the world of rakugo whereas Sukeroku appears to be crashing, especially with the developments in this episode. And while their casual outdoor-wear shows great, significant contrasts between the characters, clothing also unites these characters together. When performing rakugo, Yakumo and Sukeroku wear the same haori and hakama. Not only does wearing the same clothes connect them both to the profession they love, but it connects them to each other, as best friends. That is to say, while they are different in just about every category, they are the same when it comes to their passion for rakugo. And you can clearly see it, visually, with their connection via their same clothing when performing rakugo together.

Koukaku no Pandora (Episode 9)

I have nothing new to say about Koukaku no Pandora, but I wanted to post pictures of chibi Clarion so that I can find them easily online.

Kono Subarashii Sekai ni Shukufuku wo! (Episode 8)

With Kono Subarashii Sekai ni Shukufuku wo! ending in two episodes (the finale has already aired, whoops!), I will admit I am kinda sad we didn’t see more of the characters before their star-crossed journey together. What I mean is, I wish we saw how much of a dick Aqua was prior to meeting Kazuma, how Megumin was shunned by society due to her name, behavior, and explosive magic, and how everyone felt weirded-out by Darkness before she was accepted by Kazuma and others. However, given that there is a second season already announced, this topic is really a moot point now since we’re likely to get some backstory for these characters whenever the next season airs.

Durarara!!x2 Ketsu (Episode 9)

Given the immense size of the cast and the length of Durarara!!, I am curious if I missed cameos in the original seasons of characters that were formally introduced during these latter seasons. And though many of these newer characters have vibrant and obvious designs, I still wonder if I may have missed Chikage standing in a crowd, Akane walking by on the street, or Mikage waiting outside her dojo for Mairu and Kururi. Part of me wants to go back and scan around a few of the episodes to search for these fascinating Easter eggs, especially since there have been numerous instances of actual characters being a part of the crowd throughout the series. But, realistically, I don’t think it’s worthwhile given that such brief cameos won’t hold any significance to the story or their own development. Nevertheless, I’ve enjoyed how Durarara!! has incorporated these individual characters as functioning parts of Ikebukuro and have featured them throughout, even when their time in the spotlight has long been over.

Dagashi Kashi (Episode 9)

One of the very most essential aspects of a comedy anime, or at least in a manzai or gag anime, is that the tsukkomi (or straight man) does not scream or shout or yell too much. Thankfully, Dagashi Kashi meets that necessity with Kokonotsu and Saya being entirely reasonable tsukkomi with their reactions and punchlines. Dagashi Kashi really seems to understand how to use their personalities and comedic timing well, as the anime has a pleasant balance between normal and loud jokes. And, because of that, Dagashi Kashi has really started to grow on me despite having virtually no experience or understanding of what it’s like to grow up with these candies and snacks.

Boku Dake ga Inai Machi (Episode 9)

Will Satoru’s time traveling ability ever be explored? Or rather, and what interests me the most, does anyone else have the ability to go back in time, too, to fix their mistakes like how Satoru saves the lives of others around him? For example, does the killer have the same ability as Satoru and the two are using their two time traveling abilities to counter each other and do their best to save or kill as they please? I’m expecting something else from Boku Dake ga Inai Machi given that Satoru has been able to ‘Groundhog Day’ himself three times now, and am curious if someone else (the killer or maybe Kayo) has something unique going on with them as well.

Spring is truly a time of renaissance, a season when the world awakens from its dormant slumber of winter to period of growth and maturity.  It’s a time when sunlight becomes plentiful, flowers bloom, and animals happily frolic in the fields and forests.  And what could be better than to celebrate the revival of the world than with an entirely new anime season!  Yes, Spring 2016 is already upon us with a brilliant line-up of new and returning anime.  Come, take a preview of Spring 2016 and see how I anticipate with what shows I’ll be spending the next 3 months of my life watching.

Before I dive into the Spring 2016 anime season, I have one important bit of news that is somewhat newsworthy.  I am planning on stepping away from the Weekly Anime posts and attempting to try a new approach for writing.  Given the difficulties and challenges I’ve had with weekly anime posts since Summer 2011, I feel as though I should try something that is more current and engaging, similar to the original style that I abandoned when I wrote about the finale of Magi S1 in 2013 or the final chapter of Needless later that year.  I’m not sure exactly what my plans will be, but Spring is a season of revival and rebirth.  I might as well try to do the very same for my blog that has struggled in recent years with something that matches my current lifestyle.

As always, the order of anime listed below is neither chronological nor alphabetic but are categorized into sequels and new shows, and then ranked in order of my personal anticipation and how likely I believe I will watch that anime this season.  Every anime is evaluated and placed into one of five tiers ordered: Will watch, Likely watch, Maybe watch, Doubtful but it gets a shot, and No dice.  Within each tier, the anime are listed alphabetically.  Dates are not included because who knows when and where these shows will be subbed and available to watch… and really, that’s the most important date to know.

Spring 2016 is quite busy with a healthy number of returning franchises, a step up in count from Winter 2016 and on par with spring seasons in previous years.  Furthermore, the list looks relatively manageable from my perspective given the small set of shows I’ve watched.  Fortunately, the shows have been high-quality or feature other redeeming values, so I am genuinely interested in the sequels this season.  And since the overall season is pretty light, I’m willing to gamble on a new franchise (new to me) given the recent success seen elsewhere with trying new franchises in the middle of their multi-year run.

The franchises returning as sequels, continuations, spinoffs, and other tangents in Spring 2016 are: Aikatsu Stars!, Battle Spirits: Double Drive, Beyblade Burst, Concrete Revolutio: Choujin Gensou ~ The Last Song, Future Card Buddyfight Triple D, Gakusen Toshi Asterisk Second Season, JoJo no Kimyou na Bouken: Diamond wa Kudakenai (JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: Diamond Is Unbreakable), Kagewani Shou, Kaitou Joker Third Season, Kidou Senshi Gundam Unicorn RE:0096, Kyoukai no Rinne Second Season,  Macross Delta, Magi: Sinbad no Bokuen (TV), PriPara Third Season,  Sailor Moon Death Bursters-hen,  Terra Formars Revenge, Usakame, Ushio to Tora Second Season.  Seeing as I haven’t watched some of the originals to these anime, I will obviously skip them and recommend you check out the originals if you’re interested in any of these franchises.  Instead, this section is reserved for the anime that I will be continuing this spring, with PVs, thoughts, and assessments for each.

Concrete Revolutio: Choujin Gensou ~ The Last Song (S2)

Opinion: Concrete Revolutio proved to be one of my favorite anime of 2015 and its second half begins again in April.  The first season set the foundation for fantastic finish, by establishing a fascinating story in an even more mesmerizing setting, and completed with a gorgeous aesthetic style and charming characters.  My one concern with the original season was with its storytelling, which jumped around between time periods and often made episodes seem clouded and fuzzy.  I’m hoping the anime has a plan with how it will resolve everything, especially since it has been more than 3 months since the S1 finale, but nevertheless, this is one I will definitely be watching this spring.

Plans for this show: Will watch

JoJo no Kimyou na Bouken: Diamond wa Kudakenai (JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: Diamond Is Unbreakable)

Opinion: Part IV of JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure is debuting (or has already debuted) this spring with a new protagonist, Josuke, and a new style of story, this one concerning a string of mysterious homicides.  JJBA has quickly grown into one of my favorite franchises with the advent of the new TV anime, and I am enthusiastic and eager about the start of Diamond is Unbreakable.  Furthermore, I know virtually nothing about Part IV, so this is really the first ‘unknown’ JoJo’s for me.  There is no way I’m missing the next saga in JJBA and will definitely be watching this in Spring 2016.

Plans for this show: Will watch

Usakame

Opinion: A spinoff of Teekyuu?  As if I could resist.  Usakame will offer a fresh take at the hyper-energetic comedy series with a rival tennis club that was introduced in season 7.  The new set-up should allow for some new interactions and new jokes in the same engaging format that we’ve grown to be addicted to from previous seasons of Teekyuu.  Usakame should be more enjoyable and successful than Takamiya Nasuno Desu!, but I am unsure how it will compare to other seasons of Teekyuu given the limited information about it at this point.

Plans for this show: Will watch

Magi: Sinbad no Bokuen (TV)

Opinion: The Sinbad OVA series offered another approach to the magnificent setting of Magi, but this time through the life of young Sinbad.  What I enjoyed about the Sinbad spinoff is that it adhered closely to the original theme of Magi and the original idea of exploring dungeons and having adventures rather than the political showdown toward the end of the second season.  Sinbad speaks more to me with its romance for adventure, and that is why I am excited to see it adapted into a TV series.  However, I can’t say for sure whether I’ll keep it now given that this appears to be a loaded season, and I didn’t really enjoy the cast of characters compared to the original Magi series.  I’m also unsure of whether these first few episodes will be a recap of the OVA of sorts or whether they expect everyone to have finished the 5-episode OVA first.  That might play a role into when I decide to keep this anime or not.

Plans for this show: Likely watch

Macross Delta

Opinion: The Macross franchise is gigantic, and the size and stretch of the series has intimidated me from really wanting to dive into the series.  Given my recent string of success with starting anime franchises with their sequels (Yuru Yuri, Soukyuu no Fafner), I figure it might be worth a gamble and start the Macross franchise with this new expansion.  The PV catches my eye and the premise sounds promising, but it’s hard to know whether I’ll be welcomed and eased into the setting and series or whether I’ll be challenged with obstacles given the assumption that others have watched other Macross anime before.

Plans for this show: Maybe watch

The following two sections of the preview contains a list of all the new, original anime that will debut during the Winter 2016 anime season, with the first section on the anime I am planning on screening and the latter section the anime I have already rejected.

The new franchises of Spring 2016 show quite a bit of promise and potential, and what I decide to keep will likely come down to time constraints rather than how much I enjoy a show.  That’s often the case with spring seasons, especially with Spring 2016 containing over 50 new anime.  I’m not quite sure how many anime I’ll be able to watch, or even which shows I’ll write about (more on that later), but I’m excited nonetheless.  My plans for Spring 2016 are as follows:

Koutetsujou no Kabaneri (Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress)

Opinion: Koutetsujou no Kabaneri looks like the type of anime that I typically adore given its energy, its style, and its quality.  That, and it’s about zombies and giant trains and has kickass action sequences as demonstrated in the PV.  There are a number of reasons why this is the top new anime of the season for me, but the biggest reason might be that it has the most interesting setting of any anime.  Now, granted, the anime draws a number of comparisons to Shingeki no Kyoujin given that it’s the same studio and director, but Iron Fortress is an original anime and this should allow some more creative freedom in their vision and their storytelling.  The one worry I have with this, though, is that it’ll be a clone of Attack on Titan, though I don’t really expect that given that this is WIT’s opportunity to try something new and original with their best production team.

Plans for this show: Likely watch

Anne Happy (Unhappy Go Lucky!)

Opinion: I remember a time, not too long ago, when all I cared about was super serious, dramatic, emotional anime and I’d ignore all those happy, cutsey, moe all-girl anime.  Now, I feel as though I’m the opposite, and that these silly slice-of-life or simple comedy shows are the most appealing.  The reason might be that these types of shows are consistent and a product you can depend on whereas the dramatic and serious shows can either be hit-or-miss depending on the execution.  Anne Happy still might be awful, but it’s an easygoing, tranquil comedy series in which 5 girls all have bad luck.  Also, it’s directed by Shin Oonuma, which is always a huge plus for me.

Plans for this show: Maybe watch

Bungou Stray Dogs

Opinion: Bungou Stray Dogs features numerous elements that entice me, including its art style, its detective/mystery and superpower elements, and that it’s supposedly intended for a seinen audience.  It has that type of personality and style that I think I’ll enjoy, but what will determine whether I keep this or not are the characters and their setting.  Part of it reminds me of Concrete Revolutio above, and if it’s anything like that, I’ll keep this for sure.  Nevertheless, I don’t want to hype up an anime too much in case it lets me down, which is why I am being cautious with this until I see what Bungou Stray Dogs is really like and not just a PV.

Plans for this show: Maybe watch

Flying Witch

Opinion: Flying Witch appears to have quite a bit of potential given its characters, story, and setting, but the largest question will be how well it paces itself.  The PV above gives it a slower, relaxed feel which matches well with the rural locale, but there’ll need to be some excitement, adventure, and imagination if witches or witchcraft or magic is involved.  The backgrounds and scenery are certainly pleasant to look at, and it makes up for the somewhat bland, ordinary characters.  I can honestly see this anime going either way, but I tend to think it’ll be better than most this season and probably one that I’ll keep if the first few episodes satisfy my strict standards.

Plans for this show: Maybe watch

Joker Game

Opinion: An espionage anime?  I… I don’t think I’ve ever watched a spy anime like Joker Game before, which really bodes well for me considering that I often love Western spy movies and stories.  Joker Game seems to have all the elements of a successful spy drama, considering the intensity and style of the PV, and the aesthetics and animation are certainly striking.  I do wonder whether there’ll be over-the-top action or whether this will be more a suspenseful thriller, but either one would be wonderful to watch.  Whatever it is, Joker Game looks to be one of the better anime this spring.

Plans for this show: Maybe watch

Sakamoto desu ga?

Opinion: I always base my anticipation of comedies based on the style and humor present in the PV and… and let’s just say I have high hopes that Sakamoto desu ga? will deliver what it promises.  The real question will be what the other characters are like and how they play off this remarkable and flamboyant Sakamoto.  Really, the characters and chemistry will dictate whether this show floats or sinks, but it’s off to a fabulous start based on the humor of the PV alone.

Plans for this show: Maybe watch

Uchuu Patrol Luluco (Space Patrol Luluco)

Opinion: Uchuu Patrol Luluco is an anime with personality and energy, evident from the PV above and from its renowned production staff.  The main question with Luluco is whether it has any substance and, how the characters and story play out.  Still, at this point, I almost feel as though style wins out given how well it matches my tastes and that any story or characters at this point are good enough.  Still, I’ll get an idea of how it performs compared to everything else after an episode or two.

Plans for this show: Maybe watch

Bakuon!!

Opinion: Bakuon!! looks like a fun anime considering the amount of comedy and fanservice in the PV, but the anime’s success will depend on its motorbike aspect – its one unique element.  Fortunately, there is an OVA out that aired a couple of weeks ago, and… it seems decent, but not really the kind of show I think I’ll keep around this season.  However, I’ll give the TV version a try and see if it performs better given that it will start at the start and not in the middle (like the OVA does).  Still, I don’t have high hopes for this show.

Plans for this show: Doubtful but it gets a shot

Big Order

Opinion: Like Bakuon!! above, Big Order also has a single OVA out, and like Bakuon!!, it seems okay but nothing great.  Now, that’s not to say that there are no redeeming factors to Big Order as there are some promising elements to anime, but it doesn’t feel like something I need to watch given the size of the season and the constraints I’m facing.  Honestly, it feels like cheating to start with OVAs like this before the season starts because it doesn’t begin with the ‘beginning’ and that goes a long way in making a positive or negative first impression.  I’ll try the first episode and see if it changes my opinion on Big Order or not.

Plans for this show: Doubtful but it gets a shot

Boku no Hero Academia (My Hero Academia)

Opinion: I am genuinely interested in Boku no Hero Academia considering its hype, acclaim, and popularity… but the PV does little for me.  The PV feels a bit too shounen for me, but I’d be lying if I said it didn’t dazzle me with its color, animation, and passion.  I typically don’t care much for shounen anime or hero anime, but there is something about Boku no Hero Academia that attracts me given that it looks much, much more interesting than most shounen, hero anime.  I don’t think I’ll ever love it or rave about it like many others online, but that’s fine by me as long as I enjoy it… and it certainly seems like an anime that could go either way at this point.

Plans for this show: Doubtful but it gets a shot

Gyakuten Saiban (Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney)

Opinion: I am a fan of the Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney series and am thrilled to see it being adapted into an anime… but… it looks very low-quality based on the PV alone, and I’m really not sure what to think about it now.  It captures quite a few elements of the game and looks faithful as an adaptation… but it might be too faithful and too structured like the game, especially with the court scenes.  I don’t know whether I’ll keep it or not, but I am curious nonetheless, even with the surprise in quality as the PV suggests.

Plans for this show: Doubtful but it gets a shot

Hai-Furi

Opinion: So the anime is about a bunch of high school girls who work marine-type jobs because Japan was mostly sunk by shifting tectonic plates.  What should be a post-apocalyptic anime in which Japan struggles over the loss of millions of people and industries and farmland, appears to be a happy, moe slife anime with highschool girls doing odd jobs in their new seaside community.  What’s hilarious is that this sounds exactly like the setting to Agent Aika, but I don’t know how many people remember the setting to that anime (or even want to remember that anime).  Anyway, Hai-Furi seems rather bland and unexciting, but it’s hard to say given how generic it feels and how short the PVs are.  An episode or two will provide enough information about whether to keep this or not.

Plans for this show: Doubtful but it gets a shot

Kiznaiver

Opinion: Kiznaiver is here because I really can’t get a reliable feel for it.  The PV looks to be both serious and silly, and that can either be very good or very bad.  On one hand, the cast of exuberant and vibrant characters are a plus and I tend to like their designs and the animation style, but I’m not sure how I feel about the setting or what the story will entail, both of which appear to be serious.  I think it might be best to wait for an episode or two to see if it’ll be serious with a side of silly or silly with a dash of serious, but its how well these two themes work together that will decide whether I keep Kiznaiver or not.

Plans for this show: Doubtful but it gets a shot

Kuma Miko

Opinion: First, mute the PV.  Second, a comedy anime will be watched depending on how the comedy is and you can only really tell how a comedy anime will be after watching an episode or two.  Third, I can’t say I am enthusiastic about Kuma Miko given what we see in the PV and how it reminds me of a lesser version of Gugure! Kokkuri-san or Kamisama Kiss or Shirokuma Café.  It’s not off to a good start, but it’ll get an episode since it is a comedy anime.

Plans for this show: Doubtful but it gets a shot

Mayoiga (The Lost Village)

Opinion: Mayoiga is an anime where 30 people are on a bus going to a remote, abandoned village in the mountains.  It seems somewhat mysterious and ominous, especially with some of the promotional art, and it leads me to believe there’ll be something interesting going on if there are 30 characters to start… but it really doesn’t interest me at this point with not much known about it.  Notwithstanding, I am curious to see what it’s like given the unusual premise and original story.

Plans for this show: Doubtful but it gets a shot

Pan de Peace!

Opinion: A 4-koma anime about girls who enjoy delicious, glutinous bread.  It appears to be a lighthearted, slice-of-life comedy anime about girls who have no reason to be near each other than their unhealthy relationship with baked goods.  Like with any new type of bread, I’ll give it a sample and see whether I like it or not, so hopefully the comedy and characters with this anime are fresh and not stale.

Plans for this show: Doubtful but it gets a shot

Re:Zero kara Hajimeru Isekai Seikatsu

Opinion: Something about a high school kid being sucked into a fantasy world and blah, blah, blah.  This theme and genre is oversaturating the market, which is a shame because the PV actually looks decent and I feel as though there is some promise to this anime.  Unfortunately, I have virtually no hope for the main characters and the story, but there is some hope that the anime will be enjoyable given the setting and supporting characters.  Hopefully the anime can differentiate itself quickly from the all other “fantasy world” anime there are, because otherwise, I don’t see this one being kept around this spring.

Plans for this show: Doubtful but it gets a shot

Sansha Sanyou

Opinion: Sansha Sanyou is a 4-koma slice-of-life comedy anime with a cast of quirky female characters.  Sansha Sanyou seems to show enough promise with its characters and personality to make me want to give it a try.  It certainly seems cute and funny, but like with every comedy, it depends on the content and execution.  I am always biased toward comedy anime given that it is my favorite genre, so I hope that Sansha Sanyou makes me laugh or smile in its first episode.

Plans for this show: Doubtful but it gets a shot

Shingeki no Bahamut: Manaria Friends

Opinion: Set in the same universe as Shingeki no Bahamut Genesis but obviously not the same style or characters or themes.  And while Shingeki no Bahamut Genesis was one of the better anime of 2014, Shingeki no Bahamut: Manaria Friends looks to be one of the middle anime of Spring 2016.  I can’t say I’m too thrilled with this version of the Shingeki no Bahamut franchise, but I’m still willing to give this a shot based on the fact that this is in the same universe and that the demon girl is really cute.  Still, those two elements might not be enough for me to keep this spinoff around, but that’s why I’ll give it an episode or two to start.

Plans for this show: Doubtful but it gets a shot

Shounen Maid

Opinion: Shounen Maid looks cute, but I worry that the humor and novelty of the male maid will only go so far.  The manga has been running since 2008, which means there is plenty of material to adapt, but I’m not sure if I can last 24 minutes at a time, especially if the only joke is a boy dressing up as a maid and complaining about how his uncle is a weirdo.  I’m mainly curious to see what other type of humor the anime has considering that it seems to define itself on just this one joke.  Additionally, I might be interested in keeping this if the episodes are 8 minutes or less, a dose that seems more tolerable for a show of this caliber than 24 minutes each sitting.

Plans for this show: Doubtful but it gets a shot

Tanaka-kun wa Itsumo Kedaruge

Opinion: Another comedy anime and another one I’m willing to try for an episode or two.  What differentiates Tanaka-kun from the other comedy anime this season is that it features the director of Non Non Biyori, which is an anime I adore given its pacing, style, and chemistry.  I don’t have much hope for Tanaka-kun otherwise, given that the humor of the PV is tame or slow versus the others.  I’ll have a better idea once this anime airs and once I have a chance to try out all the other comedies.

Plans for this show: Doubtful but it gets a shot

Tonkatsu DJ Agetarou

Opinion: Tonkatsu DJ Agetarou is certainly distinctive, what with its story and animation style.  I often find myself interested in these anime with very different visual styles and performances, and so I find myself curious with how Tonkatsu DJ Agetarou presents itself.  Additionally, it’s a comedy series, so I’m curious to see whether this anime will make me smile or laugh or, like the PV, leave me somewhat perplexed.  I’m not sure how I feel about mixing tonkatsu with disc jockeying but it’s a combination I’m willing to give a chance to.

Plans for this show: Doubtful but it gets a shot

The first two sections confirm the lists of anime that I am planning on watching based on my knowledge and understanding of the shows.  All that remains in this season preview are the anime that I have already decided against.  The reason why these anime are slotted here is because they either appear to already be flawed, boring, or simply outside my demographic.  While these anime may in fact be watchable to some, they do not appear watchable for me.  I doubt I’ll examine these anime any more than the PV linked in their sections.  However, there’s always a chance for me to pick one or two up every season, so not all hope is lost for these shows if you see one of your favorites down here.  However, for most of them, there’s already zero chance I’ll even think about them after writing my opinions for each.

12-sai. ~Chicchana Mune no Tokimeki~

Opinion: Do I need to explain why this isn’t a good fit for me?

Plans for this show: No dice

Endride

Opinion: Another dime-a-dozen teenage boy goes to a fantasy world anime.  If you lined Endride up with 4 others from this genre, I wouldn’t be able to pick it out of the crowd.

Plans for this show: No dice

Hakuouki: Otogisoushi

Opinion: Even if it were 6 girls and 1 guy, I’d still say no.

Plans for this show: No dice

Hundred

Opinion: I wasn’t sure whether I should give this an episode or not.  Then I got to the end of the PV where the main character falls and fondles the main girl.  Thanks for saving me the time, Hundred PV.

Plans for this show: No dice

Kuromukuro

Opinion: Kuromukuro looks too bland and boring.  I don’t think there’s enough there to even warrant an episode at this point, especially with everything else above that looks much more interesting and exciting.

Plans for this show: No dice

Netoge no Yome wa Onnanoko ja Nai to Omotta?

Opinion: To date, I have never watched anything produced by Project No.9.  The streak will continue this season (and probably forever).

Plans for this show: No dice

Onigiri

Opinion: I originally found a short anime related to the MMORPG that this anime is based on, and now I’m curious how bad the anime will be.  Also, I wonder if they’ll adapt this in English as “Japanese Donuts”.

Plans for this show: No dice

Seisen Cerberus: Ryuukoku no Fatalite

Opinion: Again, another teenage boy in another fantasy world.  And again, no reason for me to watch.

Plans for this show: No dice

Sousei no Onmyouji

Opinion: Way too shounen for me.  And unlike the other shounen above that I’m willing to give a try, this one has no redeeming qualities for me.

Plans for this show: No dice

Wagamama High Spec

Opinion: Male protag draws ecchi romance manga.  School president finds out and wants a dude on the student council.  And that’s all I need to drop this anime.

Plans for this show: No dice

As always, I’ll be providing my reviews and opinions for most of these anime in my First Impressions posts once each these shows debut and once I actually get around to watching them.  Until that time, I hope everyone enjoys the start of the Spring 2016 anime season!

This post reviews: Uchuu Patrol Luluco, Mayoiga, Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney, and Boku no Hero Academia.

Given the size of the season, the number of shows I am planning on watching, the order in which they air, and the process for which I create these posts, I am anticipating that there will be 3 more First Impressions posts for Spring 2016 following this one.  The idea is to divide these up into smaller sets with the hope that they will be written as they premiere… But, the reality is, I’m already way, way behind and now it’s time to play catch-up.

Watching:

Uchuu Patrol Luluco (Space Patrol Luluco)

The question heading into Uchuu Patrol Luluco was whether there was any substance in this anime, how the characters and story would be presented, and how the mood and setting would be handled with all that pep, personality, and passion.  Now, the question is, why did I even worry?  No, I still have some doubts about the fundamental elements of Uchuu Patrol Luluco, but it’s the style and sensation of this anime that makes me hungry for more.  Luluco is fun, even when it’s not funny, and you can tell that everyone involved in this anime, from the production to the directing to the animation, is having a great time with this show.  And Uchuu Patrol Luluco is endearing, attributable to its delectable, chibi art style and its cheery, enthusiastic, and unlucky protagonist, Luluco.  I’ll definitely be keeping Uchuu Patrol Luluco this season, and I strongly encourage everyone to check it out, if they haven’t done so already.

Undecided:

Mayoiga (The Lost Village)

Well, that certainly was something unanticipated.  To say Mayoiga is unconventional or odd would be an understatement considering its characters, themes, atmosphere, and well… everything.  Mayoiga has a strange and unique personality as an anime, and its distinguishing itself from others this season with its enormous cast and horror/terror ambiance.  You can tell that most of these characters are going to die, right?… or, that is to say, if they’re not already dead.

I’m not sure really how to feel about Mayoiga at this point since we’ve only been just introduced to the characters and the weirdness of the series, but it has caught my attention.  I am leaning on keeping this one just because of how different it is and how it can go in really any direction from here, but I do want to wait and better understand of the other shows this season and how to budget Mayoiga in.  For now, it’s waiting in limbo… just like all the characters in this anime (according to my theory).

Boku no Hero Academia (My Hero Academia)

The first episode of Boku no Hero Academia certainly makes a strong impression with its setting and characters, but I’m not sure if it serves as a good representation for how the remainder of the series will be.  For instance, we’ve only met 3 of the approximately 21 characters in the OP and have yet to see the infamous UA High School, so it’s hard to gauge how I’ll enjoy this anime when I have no idea what the majority of the series will be like.  Still, this first episode left me impressed and wanting more of this type of content.  In fact, probably the biggest complement I could give it is that Izuku’s admiration of All Might, his desire to have a Quirk, and his dream of becoming a hero parallels many of the themes of Cruz from Needless, which is still the peak of character development in my eyes.  With that, you can tell Boku no Hero Academia is off to a great start.  However, I do want to see more of this anime and of other anime this season before I make a commitment on Boku no Hero Academia.

Dropped:

Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney (Gyakuten Saiban)

Although I am grateful that we finally have a Phoenix Wright anime, this isn’t what I want.  My primary issue – and the main reason why I am dropping it – is that Ace Attorney doesn’t feel like an anime. Rather, it feels like playing the Ace Attorney game or, perhaps more appropriately, watching someone else play the game for you.  The idea of the Ace Attorney franchise is that you are the protagonist and that you must think, analyze, and act in order to defend your client.  The magic and intrigue of this world famous franchise is gone when the anime removes the player from that role and places them in the crowd.  There’s a major disconnect from being the attorney and watching the attorney, and it just doesn’t feel the same.  Not only that, but the structure and pacing in this first episode was stiff and rigid, that it had to adapt the game faithfully but took that notion way, way too far.  At this point, why not just play the game if you’re new to the franchise?  I don’t really see anyone enjoying this anime unless they are absolute die-hard fans of the Ace Attorney franchise… and, evidently, I am not.

This post reviews: Kuma Miko, Re:Zero kara Hajimeru Isekai Seikatsu, Macross Delta, Mobile Suit Gundam Unicorn RE:0096, Bakuon!!, and Hundred.

With every day, I am making progress on catching up and am almost up-to-date.  My impressions on the season thus far are that it is vastly, vastly superior to Winter 2016, a season which ended up the lowest scoring season since I began blogging in 2011.  Fortunately, Spring 2016 doesn’t seem to be suffering the same fate as Winter 2016 did.

Watching:

Mobile Suit Gundam Unicorn RE:0096

So this is an interesting decision to make.  I originally anticipated this to be a follow-up to the Gundam Unicorn OVA that aired from 2010 to 2014 and for me to just skip the series.  Then, after trying an episode of RE:0096 and comparing it to the first OVA, I found out that they are 99% identical.  Yes, there are a few small changes besides the addition of an OP and ED, but this is just Gundam Unicorn all over again.  So really, the question is, do I go with the TV or the OVA?

Considering my appalling history of watching OVAs and movies, something I’ve never quite been able to master, I think it may be best to stick for me to stick with the TV series.  Additionally, there is the possibility that the TV series might include some new content somewhere, especially since the TV series is scheduled to conclude in September.  As for the anime itself, I really couldn’t ask for anything more.  It has movie-quality art and animation, evident both in the action sequences and ordinary, everyday shots.  I am intrigued with where the story is heading, and considering how popular and acclaimed the OVA is, this is an easy decision to pick up.

Undecided:

Kuma Miko

Comedies like this can be difficult to evaluate after one episode since the humor really depends on the relationships of the characters and the content for that episode.  For Kuma Miko, the relationship between the Bear (Natsu) and Shrine Maiden (Machi) is the foundation for which this anime is to grow.  The two have decent chemistry together, which is essential for me to keep, though they are both rather tame and calm as characters.  The primary issue with Kuma Miko is content moving forward.  Fortunately for me, the content will change every episode, so there is a good chance the second episode will be funnier than the first.  However, I don’t much care for shows that are hit-or-miss, especially when they’re more miss than hit.  Another potential issue with this series versus other comedies is the amount of fanservice and sexualization present in the first episode.  Whereas I enjoy fanservice in other types of comedies (see Bakuon!! below), it feels a bit out of place here.  It wouldn’t be reason enough for me to drop it alone, but I do worry that the show will rely a bit too much on trying to make humor out of the bear-girl relationship.  It’ll get another episode, but it’s already behind a number of other comedies this season.

Macross Delta

As I mentioned previously, this is my first Macross anime.  Now, after just one episode, I do have a favorable impression of the franchise and this anime, but I do wonder if maybe I should start off with something else.  I mean, Macross Delta is fine as an anime, but I wonder if I should be spending my time on some of the more established, more renowned, and quite frankly better Macross shows.  To be honest, I didn’t exactly love the first episode of Macross Delta, and I began to wonder if or how I would enjoy the other anime in the Macross universe.  I think I’ll need some time, as well as a few more episodes of Delta, to better understand whether this is the right anime for me or whether I want to go back and try the original Macross (from 1982) or Macross F or something.  So, for now, Macross Delta is undecided.

Bakuon!!

Although Bakuon!! is here in the undecided category, I am strongly contemplating and believing I’ll keep it.  Thus far, Bakuon!! has been the best comedy, both in terms of content and delivery, in a rather disappointing season for comedies.  Another positive for this series is it has some of the greatest promise and potential for a comedy considering its characters, their chemistry, and the theme of motorcycles and motorbikes.  The art and animation serve Bakuon!! well, especially in the dynamic riding shots (where the camera is static and the girls/bike are moving).  I don’t mind the ecchi fanservice in this anime considering that it’s mainly subtle (not in your face, except for a few instances) and there are no dudes around to ruin the joke or scene.  I don’t mind the blatant advertisements either, primarily because of how the girls criticize and mock the other brands and companies that appear in the anime.  Honestly, there really isn’t much wrong with this anime except that I didn’t care much for the OVA that aired back in March.  That and I do wonder how the series will progress, with competitive races or slice-of-life scenes, which would ultimately dictate where the comedy goes and, with it, my enjoyment.  Still, I am planning on keeping this series, but I want to give it one more episode to make sure it’s the right choice.

Dropped:

Re:Zero kara Hajimeru Isekai Seikatsu

Re:Zero kara Hajimeru Isekai Seikatsu debuted with two episodes, primarily because the first half establishes itself up as a generic teenager-in-fantasy-world anime and the second half introduces the Groundhog Day gimmick that distinguishes it apart from the other generic teenager-in-fantasy-world anime.  Still, it’s a generic teenager-in-fantasy-world anime, even with the death-and-revival gimmick, and it really failed to demonstrate enough material and potential to make me think that this would turn into anything special.  The one unique trait this anime has is fine, but it doesn’t make up for everything else being mediocre at best.  I didn’t ever enjoy myself watching the “first” episode of Re:Zero kara Hajimeru Isekai Seikatsu, even after the death-and-revival aspect was revealed, so there’s really no point in continuing if that’s what the series is about.

Hundred

Curiosity got the best of me, and I watched the first episode of Hundred.  I understand that the series is named because it is the combined product of 100 different anime.  Or, if not, it certainly felt that way since nothing in Hundred seemed even remotely original or interesting.  But, because everything was so plagiaristic and unoriginal, I did find the episode hilarious in how predictable and awful it would be… so I guess it does have one positive.  Still, it has a hundred negatives, and so that’s a pretty easy decision to make with this anime.

This post reviews: Joker Game, Sousei no Onmyouji, Bungou Stray Dogs, Anne Happy, Koutetsujou no Kabaneri, Sakamoto desu ga?, and Shounen Maid.

I am not sure when Part 4 of the Spring 2016 First Impressions series will be published since a number of shows still haven’t aired.  I am debating whether I to post it without covering a couple of shows or whether I should wait and post it when the final show is out.  And given that I am planning on changing my writing format for this season, I’m not sure if or when I’ll ever get around to writing my thoughts on some of these late, late shows.

Watching:

Joker Game

My first admiration with Joker Game begins with its ability to fine-tune its tension and to manipulate its suspense.  Scenes that seem certain are revealed to be deceptions, relationships that seem genuine are dishonest, and the promise of drama, espionage and mystery are already paying off in just one episode.  To build off that first point, my second admiration with Joker Game is its setting and aesthetics.  As Joker Game is an espionage anime, and one set in urban Japan in 1937, there needs to be an astute level of detail in the setting to really capture the moment and atmosphere of the period.  But beyond the clothes, architecture, and technology, Joker Game captures the political and social feel of Japan just after the start of the Second Sino-Japanese War.  Not only that, but I adore the use of lighting and shadows in Joker Game.  Given the setting, it is understandable that Joker Game is dark, but it’s the use of light and shadows that has me enchanted.  It aids in the visuals and style of the series and helps complement the earthy, wooden tones that the anime utilizes well.  And though I could continue with my respect for this series, I do, actually, have some reservations.  For one, I do worry about the spies as characters.  I am fully aware they won’t have any backstories for which to base their roles on, as they are spies, but I am curious how or if they will develop and potentially turn against each other.  Joker Game may not necessarily be character-driven, but espionage stories depend heavily on the spies themselves as characters.  That isn’t to say that there is anything wrong with what happened in the first episode, but it is uncertain at this point.  Still, Joker Game has been one of the most delightful and impressive new anime this season, and one that I am eager to continue for the rest of this spring.

Anne Happy (Unhappy Go Lucky!)

And now for an endearing, colorful, and heartwarming anime about cute girls with terrible, dreadful, abysmal luck.  Anne Happy is a charming comedy/slice-of-life anime that matches my individuality well.  When evaluating a slice-of-life anime, I look for enjoyable, engaging characters that work well together.  Anne Happy certainly demonstrated that with its first episode, presenting the five main girls with deeper dives into An and Ruri.  And when judging a comedy, I don’t necessarily need to smile or laugh right away, as it is the potential and scenario of the anime that often result in the best humor.  I will admit I was a bit disappointed with the humor in this episode – mild at best – but it was the visuals of Anne Happy that wins out for me.  It may have been a while, but I will remind you again that Shin Oonuma is my favorite anime director.  Not only does he have an amazing talent to improve upon the source material for an anime adaptation, but his use of light, color, and chibi character really compliments the characters and comedy of Anne Happy.  I particularly enjoy the uplifting pastel palette of the anime, one that gives the impression of fortune and good luck which contrasts well with the girls’ misfortune and bad luck.  Simply, Anne Happy had an enjoyable first episode, and it has brilliant visuals.  I’m not expecting this to be near the top for Spring 2016, but I am expecting to be somewhat lucky by picking up Anne Happy this season.  Then again, it might also be bad luck considering that they introduced a mascot character at the end of episode 1…

Koutestsujou no Kabaneri (Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress)

Given that Shingeki no Kyojin and Koutetsujou no Kabaneri share the same director, studio, and primary staff, it shouldn’t be surprising that Iron Fortress will be viewed as the little brother to the titanic blockbuster that was Attack on Titan.  In fact, Iron Fortress has earned itself the nickname ‘Attack on Trains’ given the unprecedented number of similarities between the two.  And while this may seem like a negative to many, viewing the anime as derivative or a copycat, I am actually thrilled and excited to see it parallel Titan in so many ways.  The main reason why I am delighted is that Koutetsujou no Kabaneri is an original anime, not an adaptation, and will allow Tetsurou Araki and his staff to experiment on a series with creativity, origination, and imagination that was otherwise limited with Shingeki no Kyojin.  Iron Fortress is the payoff for such a masterful and magnificent job with Attack on Titan, and I am eager to see what they will attempt to do with their own story in their own hands.

Of course, many of the elements of Kabaneri are the same as Titan, but that is more a positive than a negative to me.  With that in mind, we already understand and appreciate a number of aspects of the anime, such as the astonishing fight sequences, the dystopian and dehumanized setting, and the bold and thorough art and animation.  Really, what’s not to like with a series such as this, especially if you were a fan of Shingeki no Kyojin or anything with steampunk technology or gigantic trains that run over hordes and hordes of zombies every day?  Koutetsujou no Kabaneri should be one of the most impressive anime of the season and one of the most spellbinding, too.

Sakamoto desu ga?

The PV for Sakamoto desu ga? was promising, an encouraging video with snazzy, jazz tunes playing over a flamboyant highschooler posing and flying around and doing all sorts of ‘cool’ things.  But, as is often the case with anime, you have to wait until the first episode or two to really know what you’re getting yourself into.  And, with Sakamoto desu ga?, you’re getting easily one of the best comedies of the year.  It didn’t take long for me to fall in love with the humor of this series (hint: it was the bird skit) and I am sincerely interested to see where this bizarre comedy will go next.  The other elements of the anime, such as the characters, art, story, sound, blah blah blah, don’t really matter when the comedy and humor is this good.  And fortunately for us, the characters, art, story, sound, and even the blah blah blah are all great, too.  Sakamoto desu ga? is already a strong choice for Spring 2016, and I am expecting the series to continue on this positive trajectory.  If you don’t know what I’m talking about, allow yourself to be charmed and swayed by Sakamoto.

Undecided:

Bungou Stray Dogs

Ok, before I begin, why did they call it a ‘man-eating tiger’ when the tiger never killed or ate any people?  Am I the only one that caught that inconsistency?

Anyway, Bungou Stray Dogs is a problematic anime for me because while it technically passes the basics for keeping an anime, I never really found myself enjoying it at any point in the first episode.  Stray Dogs certainly has the visuals to be a watchable anime, given its design, direction, color and lighting, not to mention great animation that complements the humor and the action.  Too bad the humor is banal and bland.  The animation tries so damn hard to make the scenes funny but you can’t make the audience laugh when the jokes are just… awful.  And considering that fact, I don’t think I’ll want to keep it given that I don’t see the comedy ever improving in this anime.  However, given that Bungou Stray Dogs is here, I am willing to give it another episode since the ending introduced three new main characters and there is a faint hope that they can replace the three that ate up most of the screentime in this episode.  I am leaning on dropping it, but I’m feeling benevolent and am curious where the series will go with its superpowers and detective story elements.

Dropped:

Sousei no Onmyouji (Twin Star Exorcists)

Sousei no Onmyouji is a decent anime, but it doesn’t have the intangibles to keep it, especially in light of all the other anime airing in Spring 2016.  Whereas Twin Star Exorcists bedazzles with its gorgeous art and exquisite fighting, perhaps one of the better examples this season, the core of the anime feels incredibly weak and generic.  The most incompatible aspect of Sousei no Onmyouji is its characters, where Rokuro and Benio mix like oil and water.  Separate those two parts and you’re left with pretty decent characters, but not together like this.  It just doesn’t work for me and the story and scenario don’t help either.  And according to my notes following the episode, there was only 1 good joke, but I can’t even remember it now which shows how much of an impression it left on me.  Overall, the first episode was underwhelming, uninspired, and clichéd.  And with so many other shows outperforming this in week 1, this is an easy choice to drop it now.

Shounen Maid

I, uh… I wasn’t expecting this to be 24 minutes.  I also wasn’t expecting a story and characters with backstories or anything.  I probably should’ve done more research on this anime and prepared myself accordingly, but I was expecting a simple, short comedy instead of a full-length TV anime.  I found myself bored and tedious about halfway through and didn’t even finish the first episode.  If this were 3 or 5 or even 10 minutes per episode, I’d be willing to give this a try, but there is no way I could sit through a full season of 24-minute episodes of this, especially when I couldn’t even complete one 24-minute episode.

This post reviews: Tanaka-kun wa Itsumo Kedaruge, Kiznaiver, Hai-Furi, Flying Witch, Sansha Sanyou, Tonkatsu DJ Agetarou, Kuromukuro, and Big Order.

It has taken me much longer than I expected, but I finally have the time to write down my thoughts on the first (and sometimes second) episodes for the remaining eight anime that premiered last week. At last, it’s time to close out this introduction to the Spring 2016 anime season and begin work on a more manageable list of shows to stay current with. Below are the last few shows to make or miss the cut and a couple that I am still undecided on.

Watching:

Kiznaiver

Kiznaiver is an easy choice for me given the vibrant and eccentric personality of its primary cast. I’ve enjoyed stories like these where a band of misfits is formed for some arbitrary reason and they get to know each other, work together, and accomplish whatever asinine goals depend on them and only them. With Kiznaiver, the characters are all very extreme and romanticized stereotypes that are masking deeper issues, and I’m interested in seeing these characters change and grow as the series progresses. And, in the meanwhile, it’ll be fun to see these conflicting and opposing personalities work together. In fact, it reminds me of a sillier, more comical (and thus, more enjoyable) version of Kokoro Connect. The decision to keep this is further supported by the aesthetics of the series, especially with the vivid colors and enthusiastic animation. If there is a disappointing with this, it’s that I can’t speak too highly of the setting, which doesn’t seem to have the same care and development as the characters or the story, but perhaps that will change once more is revealed. Nonetheless, Kiznaiver really impressed me with its first (and second) episodes, and it will be one to follow closely this season.

Flying Witch

The more I watch of anime in general, the more I realize that I truly appreciate simple and relaxing slice-of-life shows. Flying Witch is exactly that, a very pleasant and tranquil slice-of-life/comedy about a young witch adjusting to a new life in a new location. The setting of Flying Witch strongly reinforces the intended atmosphere and theme, given that Makoto moves from metropolis Yokohoma, near Tokyo, to rural Aomori in northern Honshu. There doesn’t seem to be much depth in the characters right now, though we’re getting to see how Makoto is different than her cousins, but it does seem the humor and story will focus on more than just the witch given the attention to Chinatsu and Nao in the first episode. The scenic landscapes and backgrounds are astounding and easily a personal favorite this season. The characters do seem rather plain, but the expressions and reactions are conveyed clearly and it fits with that simple, easy mood. Overall, Flying Witch seems to fill that void of an easygoing, peaceful, and amusing slice-of-life anime this season, and I’ll be eagerly awaiting this satisfying anime each week this spring.

Undecided:

Hai-Furi (High School Fleet)

Hai-Furi follows in the wake behind other popular moe-military combinations – “moelitary” or some other awful portmanteau – but seems to be lagging behind in some of the areas that made those other franchises successful. Girls und Panzer and Kantai Collection both saw success with cute, moe anime girls in dangerous military situations for a number of reasons. For me, it was the whole absurdity of the situation, the personalities of the characters, and the humor present in the series. High School Fleet really only has… well, none of those things. The situation seems fairly commonplace in this setting, the characters are very flat, tame, and not necessarily creative, and the humor was drowned out by the melodrama of their teacher trying to kill them for whatever reason. However, the first episode did capture my interest, and I am somewhat invested to see where this goes. I think another episode should be enough to decide whether I want to keep this or not, so hopefully it goes in an exciting direction after what transpired in the first episode.

Sansha Sanyou

After one episode of Sansha Sanyou, I am faced with both positives and negatives. The good news for Sansha Sanyou is that the characters are cute, the animation is flashy, and the scenario seems decent for a comedy. The bad news for Sansha Sanyou is that I never really enjoyed any of the jokes or humor in the first episode and am wondering if this is worth keeping with so many other comedies this spring. I feel another episode is necessary before deciding whether to drop this or not given that 4-koma style comedies are often hit-or-miss depending on the content of the episode and often, the introductory episodes where everything is established is the worst in terms of content for comedy. Given that observation, plus the fact that all the positives are long-term qualities, I think I’ll need one more episode to see if it can prove itself to be funny or not. If not, I might consider keeping this around as an option to 4x this season.

Dropped:

Tanaka-kun wa Itsumo Kedaruge (Tanaka-kun is Always Listless)

Speaking about 4x-ing an anime, I will be 4x-ing Tanaka-kun (and that is essentially dropping an anime to me). The first episode of Tanaka-kun not only left me feeling listless (a joke probably used a thousand times by now, sorry that you have to put up with it more than once), but I don’t see it ever really improving given that the whole anime is about Tanaka-kun being bored and tired. I mean, the anime seems to be about one joke, and if I know the joke isn’t funny, why would I bother continuing with it? At least Tanaka-kun has a saving grace, which is that I find the female characters to be cute and amusing when they’re involved. Also, there are two girls with short, blue hair (but are so unpopular, they don’t seem to have names credited to them and only really appear in the OP and ED), so I think I’ll just skim through the episodes for just those two reasons. Yes, it is incredibly shallow, but I don’t really see any other value in keeping a series I don’t expect to enjoy otherwise.

Tonkatsu DJ Agetarou

Tonkatsu DJ Agetarou is another comedy that failed to produce any laughs or smiles and is one that I don’t see much change in the long-term. The anime does poke humor at the similarities between cooking tonkatsu and being a DJ, but… that seems to be it. The anime kinda boxes itself in with this title and this premise. Sure, it might go places with these themes, but it really failed to impress me with this first episode. I don’t mind the atypical or strange art style… in fact, it was because of the art style that I gave this first episode a try. However, it’s the content and comedy that ultimately flop with this anime.

Kuromukuro

Had I only finished one episode, Kuromukuro would have placed in the “Undecided” category, but after two episodes, I feel as though Kuromukuro should be dropped… and, well, is being dropped. Kuromukuro certainly has a breathtaking amount of animation in the first episode, especially in the minor details like how the characters walked and moved. It certainly impressed me, especially with the variety of angles and with the mecha fight animation. Where Kuromukuro loses me is with its characters and the story. I felt disconnected from everyone and no amount of walking animation was going to make up for that. The characters felt more and more stiff and shallow as the episode went on, going from the main character (Yukina), to the UN director (Hiromi), to the scientists, and finally to the samurai dude (Ouma) who, unfortunately, is the secondary lead in this. The story didn’t do much to inspire confidence either, with these various alien mecha being the oni that Yukina’s father alluded to a decade prior. Yes, I realize the anime will be much, much more than what was shown in these introductory episodes given the extensive cast of characters, but I struggled through two episodes and know I can’t make it through twelve or whatever. And it’s a shame, because I really, really, really liked watching those characters walk around.

Big Order

If I could ignore some of the faults and displeasures with this first episode, I’d be keeping Big Order. Fortunately, the uncomfortably heavy emphasis on the almost-but-not-quite incestuous relationship between the main character and his little sister and the tentacle bondage and moaning during the credits were enough of a warning to realize that this isn’t the anime for me. It’s a shame, really, since Big Order was decent all-around, given its scenario, its setting, the characters themselves, and their superpowers. In fact, if you just cut out the scenes with the sister and the very ending, I’d strongly consider keeping it… but given that these are two elements that are likely to last throughout the series, I can’t really see myself putting up with an anime knowing that I’ll irritated or annoyed with a scene or two every episode. So, with that, it’s probably best to drop it now rather than try to balance enjoying the elements I enjoy with the bits and pieces I don’t.

After three episodes, we understand that the Kizuna system is able to sense, quantify, transmit, and inflict pain in Kiznaiver.  Pain is the instrument used to connect and unite these seven unfamiliar classmates; it is the foundation for which to improve awareness, understanding, and sympathy within this fragmented society.  But what exactly is pain in Kiznaiver?  Or rather, given the broad and general meaning of pain, what type of pain are the characters dealing with?  Do the members involved in this experiment experience the same perception and reaction to pain?  And just how does this definition and understanding of pain influence the characters and story of this anime?  This post on the third episode of Kiznaiver attempts to better under the characterization and role of pain used in Kiznaiver.

First, before diving any further into this subject, a bit of background on the neurobiology of pain is warranted, specifically on nocioceptive pain.  Nocioceptive pain is typically what we think of when we think of physical pain and it is different than other types of pain that we may experience, such as neuropathic pain.  Nocioceptive pain is detected by two types of afferent nerve fibers in the peripheral nervous system, the slower, unmyelinated C fibers and the faster, mylelinated A-delta fibers.  As a result of the difference in the nerves, C fiber nociceptors produce slower, burning sensations of pain whereas A-delta fiber nociceptors produce quick, sharp sensations of pain.  Both types of nocioceptors will respond to noxious stimuli, though there are variances within each type that respond to either mechanical or thermal stimuli.  When stimulated, these nerves fire signals to the brain letting us know which area of our body hurts and quantifies how much pain you’re in.  Fortunately, there are many ways of reducing or eliminating the perception of pain, such as through our natural analgesia system which releases opioids through A-beta fiber mechanoceptors which activate inhibitors on pain fibers, or through good, old-fashion drugs.

Alright, that should be enough science for now or at least adequate for this post on the neurobiology of pain pain in Kiznaiver.  And it should be enough to transition to the first anime-relevant topic, the inspiration for this post.  My question manifested when Tenga complained about the residual pain from falling off the balcony, and Agata hypothesized that secondary pain isn’t transmitted through the Kizuna system.  You might remember from the previous paragraph that C fibers are responsible for secondary, residual pain.  Based on this dialogue and the examples used throughout the episode (such as the lack of residual pain after Hisomu jumped from his apartment), we can assume that only A-delta fiber pain is being used by the Kizuna system.  And, to continue on this point, the various characters react to the same transmission of pain differently, whether they grab their head or hold their abdomen, leading us to postulate that it is only the intensity of pain inflicted on these unlucky characters and that it is not mapped to any location of their bodies.  So in that sense, we have an idea for the definition and type of pain being employed in Kiznaiver and the main mystery of this system is over, right?

Well, if only it were that easy.  The fact is, we’ve only seen a few examples of pain, so the Kizuna system might actually be more complex and intricate than what we’ve seen.  And the heart of this post is actually on the role of pain in Kiznaiver now that we have a better understanding of the type of pain and location of being communicated by the Kizuna system thus far.  You may ask yourself – or at least I have – about the other types of pain that are not being utilized and whether pain is equalized among the Kizuna members.  For example, are emotional pain and social pain considered in Kiznaiver?  Recent studies have demonstrated that the region of the brain that quantifies physical pain, the anterior cingulate cortex, also handles emotional and social pain.  However, there doesn’t seem to be any form of pain being communicated, and a good example of this would be when we see Chidori around Agata, knowing that she is heartbroken at her unrequited love.  You can’t help but wonder if whether the inclusion of emotional and social pain would have been too much for a story like Kiznaiver.  Then again, on the other hand, you can’t help but wonder what other types of stories and narratives and themes could have been explored had emotional and social pain been considered and utilized through the Kizuna system.

Another question is on whether pain is equally shared between the members.  We already can tell the experience is not equal, given that Agata is numb to pain for whatever reason.  However, do some characters tolerate pain better than others through their natural analgesia systems or even through pharmaceuticals?  For instance, what’s to say that the characters don’t begin taking painkillers to mitigate the effects of the Kizuna system?  Or what about pain related to variations in temperature?  Or what about pain tolerance in general or characters who are already in pain before the Kizuna system activates?  We’ve only seen a few examples of pain in these first three episodes and it doesn’t seem to go beyond the physical pain that we’ve witnessed.  After all, the second episode would have been a prime example to demonstrate emotional pain given that each of the members had to share their most embarrassing, humiliating secrets.

However, what I find fascinating and captivating about Kiznaiver is the specific and narrow definition of pain and how this impacts the themes and the narrative of this anime.  Given that Kiznaiver is limited to physical pain, it restricts the story and thesis to a definable area.  To me, pain is being used in Kiznaiver as a means of bring people together and nothing more.  The Kizuna system is limited to only notifying its members that someone is in pain and nothing more.  Rather, it is the characters themselves that are working toward the common objectives and goals of this Kizuna experiment, which is improving understanding, sympathy, and community among its members.  Pain and the Kizuna system have no impact here.  In fact, the Kizuna system is a little more than a mobile alert notifying the cohort that they should pay attention to another member, but it doesn’t actually require them to do anything or explain how they should help.  Rather, it’s up to the characters themselves to realize and achieve the goal of the Kizuna project.  You can’t help but wonder if other types of pain, such as emotional or social pain would help with the other aspects of understanding and sympathy, but those sensations are not apparent at all.  And, considering the theme of this anime, it’s probably better that way since it’s about the characters working with each other than through a magical pain messaging system.

The reality is that pain and the Kizuna system are a small part in the overall narrative of Kiznaiver.  While it is undeniable that pain plays a central role and is commonplace throughout each of the episodes, Kiznaiver is about the characters working together, understanding each other, and fostering a sense of friendship and community.  The definition and role of pain in Kiznaiver is both narrow and restricted, but it is being utilized fully as a means of connecting characters together and initiating positive responses.  It’s a fascinating idea to wrap your head around given that pain is in the forefront of everyone’s minds in Kiznaiver.  However, Kiznaiver is about how the characters respond to pain and how they are improving themselves as humans than about pain itself.

You can’t help but feel that the seven classmates selected as test subjects for the Kizuna system are unlucky.  However, they should consider themselves to be fortunate they’re not paired up with Botan from Anne Happy!.  Then again, it might be amusing to see the anime turn into a whole series about how to prevent Botan from injuring herself in order to keep all the others from experiencing her pain.  If there ever was a crossover between anime this season, Anne Happy! and Kiznaiver would be a good one.

The fourth episode of Joker Game had an astonishing setting, both in terms of its historical context and for the presentation of its story.  Yet, how was such a locale and situation even possible for a plot like this?  This episode was set in Shanghai and between 1937 and 1941, during the height of the Second Sino-Japanese War when Japan was invading and controlling large regions of China.  You may be wondering, with war between Japan and China raging across the nation, how was such a setting possible for Joker Game to utilize?  How was a military police unit, Chinese revolutionaries, and America and British citizens able to coexist in such a place with such turmoil and conflict?  This post on the fourth episode of Joker Game attempts to describe all the details and history of the Shanghai International Settlement and why it was such a remarkable setting for this episode’s narrative.

The Shanghai International Settlement was born in 1842 from the Treaty of Nanking after the First Opium War, opening Shanghai to British and international trade.  Seizing this opportunity, the British formed a settlement on the river and, soon after, were joined by French, American, and European businesses.  Eventually, the Shanghai International Settlement gained sovereignty from the Chinese government and established itself as a foreign enclave in central China.  After the First Sino-Japanese War, which ended in 1895, Japan found itself among the international powers, and Japanese businesses soon joined in the enclave, attaining success in the region and coexisting between major British, French, and American companies.  It remained that way until war broke out between Japan and China in 1937.

As we’ve seen throughout Joker Game, 1937 was a turning point for Japan as an empire and for D Agency as an entity.  In the summer of 1937, fighting broke out in Japanese-occupied Beijing between the Chinese revolutionaries and the Imperial Japanese army.  These skirmishes gave rise to greater Chinese confidence and soon lead to the Chinese attacking Japanese soldiers stationed in the Shanghai International Settlement in August 1937.  The Battle for Shanghai lasted several months and was eventually won by the Japanese when reinforcements caused the Chinese revolutionaries to retreat.  From that point on, Japan controlled Shanghai with its established military presence, but it did not control the international community in the heart of the city, the Shanghai International Settlement.  Between 1937 and 1941, the Shanghai International Settlement existed as a tense multi-national society surrounded by an intimidating Imperial Japanese army.  Given the circumstances, many Chinese citizens – as well as revolutionaries – fled to the Shanghai International Settlement as refugees, and it became a stronghold considering that they felt protected by British and American interests.  With the Imperial Army omnipresent in Shanghai, fighting continued between the two sides in the form of little skirmishes throughout the city, sometimes even felling within the boundaries of the Settlement.  And with that, we should have enough background and context to begin analyzing the episode.

Given what occurred in the fourth episode of Joker Game, we can confirm what we just learned with what we just saw.  A major theme throughout this episode was the anti-Japanese movement within Shanghai, with prime examples being the bombings and terrorism of suspected Chinese revolutionaries.  The fourth episode also demonstrated noteworthy Americanized and Westernized interests coexisting peacefully, though largely detached, with Japanese soldiers and Chinese citizens, such as the Dancing Hall Night Club and Inspector James.  And despite playing such a minor role in the episode, we can better understand the context of the situation between Oikawa, Honma, and James given that the settlement was controlled by British and American interests, as well as why the Military Police was stationed outside the Shanghai International Settlement.  And, of course, the Kosei Unit of the Military Police makes sense considering the extensive military presence in the region from the Imperial Army and why they would be located outside the Shanghai International Settlement, too.  So, given what we’ve learned and what we can discern from the episode, a significant amount of care and detail went into the setting of this episode.  But why go to such lengths to put this narrative and this story in this specific and defined setting?

To me, the setting had an incredible influence on the story, showing parallels between the hedonistic pleasures of the Westernized enclave and the debauched Captain Oikawa.  Or, in another way, it paired the anti-Japanese Settlement and the anti-Japanese Oikawa.  The setting of the Shanghai International Settlement helped augment Oikawa’s corruption and unethical ways, involving him to sybaritic and selfish pleasures during a time of war and conflict.  And though it wasn’t apparent at the time, Sargent Honma’s adventure through the dark back alleys and discovering the bright, dazzling dance hall was akin to Honma being lost in his case until discovering Oikawa’s secret (and for good measure, after Oikawa was arrested at the end of the episode, the hall’s lights were off – how’s that for symbolism??).  As we’ve learned from previous episodes, these behaviors are very anti-Japanese, especially in the eyes of the Imperial Army.  In fact, Oikawa’s laughter at the thought of his own suicide for his corruption was a hallmark to the first couple episodes.  This fourth episode certainly reinforced the ongoing theme of squaring off the antiquated and stringent Japanese nationalism versus non-Japanese or anti-Japanese equivalences.  Pairing the self-indulgent Oikawa with this wealthy Westernized enclave was a brilliant move for this episode and helps reinforce the importance and symbolism of the setting in Joker Game.

One of the other highlights about this episode is that the spy of the week, this time Fukumoto, was not the main character.  And yet, despite the minor role, Fukumoto played a central role in resolving the issue with the corrupt captain.  Fukumoto’s roles were very subtle and largely unnoticed to the episode’s main characters, but it showed just how influential and successful the spies of D Agency are.  I always enjoy stories like these, where the perspective and perception changes, yet it still gets its message across effortlessly.

Tis the season for new anime, fa la la la la la la la la la.

Hopefully all the shows are okay, fa la la la la la la la la.

But we know that’s not realistic, fa la la la la la la la la.

Then again, I am pessimistic, fa la la la la la la la la.

Look below for my Summer preview, fa la la la la la la la la.

Berserk, Zestiria, and Amanchu!, fa la la la la la la la la.

Looking pretty good with those, fa la la la la la la la la.

Wait, what’s with all these fujoshi shows?, fa la la la la la la la la.

Sorry for the painful intro.  Before we begin, I have some insignificant announcement.  My experiment with the Spotlight series was an absolute catastrophe, and I will probably be going back toward the Weekly Anime posts that were substantially more successful.  Also, I figure I’ll have more time to write this season since I will actually be home for most of the season.  Oh, that and I figure I’ll be watching less anime.  Yeah, about that… let’s move onto the Summer 2016 season preview, shall we?

As always, the order of anime listed below is neither chronological nor alphabetic but are categorized into sequels and new shows, and then ranked in order of my personal anticipation and how likely I believe I will watch that anime this season.  Every anime is evaluated and placed into one of five tiers ordered: Will watch, Likely watch, Maybe watch, Doubtful but it gets a shot, and No dice.  Within each tier, the anime are listed alphabetically.  Dates are not included because who knows when and where these shows will be subbed and available to watch… and really, that’s the most important date to know.

Like most seasons, Summer 2016 has an suitable balance between the number of returning series and the number of new anime franchises.  Unfortunately for me, the season is considerably light in terms of sequels that I have previous experience with, meaning that my typical anchor for a new anime season – a returning favorite – is not present.  Still, this might be an advantage given that I have made considerable progress on my backlog this year and this will give me an opportunity to continue watching shows that I’ve been meaning to watch since… well, since the 1990s.  Yeah, I’m not good at catching up on my backlog.

The franchises returning as sequels, continuations, spinoffs, and other tangents in Summer 2016 are: Active Raid Second Season, Arslan Senki: Fuujin Ranbu, Berserk, D.Gray-man Hallow, Danganronpa 3 – The End of Kibougamine Gakuen, Dinan Koukou Chikyuu Bouei-bu LOVE! LOVE!, Fate/kaleid liner Prisma Illya 3rei!!, GraP & RodeO Second Season, Handa-kun, Love Live! Sunshine!!, Majestic Hour (a rebroadcast of Majestic Prince), Nanatsu no Taizai: Seisen no Shirushi, Shokugeki no Souma: Ni no Sara, and Show By Rock!! Short!!.  Below are my thoughts and opinions on the franchises that I have experience with and am anticipating continuing.  As for all the others, the source material and previous anime are probably your best bet for what to expect with those anime.

Berserk (2016)

Opinion: The original Berserk aired in 1997 and had 3 movies aired from 2012 to 2013.  This new version is strikingly different from the previous versions in its use of 3D animation, but the art style is certainly eye-catching and distinctive.  Not only that, but the fact that it is 3D leads me to believe the motion and action during the battle sequences should be enthusiastic and pronounced.  Not only that, but there should be some nice cinematography to enhance the battles, too, given the renowned fight sequences in previous Berserk anime.  Fortunately for me, it seems as though this is welcoming and accommodating for new fans to start the series with, seeing as I have not made it through my backlog to the older Berserk anime.  I’ll be sure to see how more seasoned fans of the Berserk franchise respond to this and maybe adjust my backlog in accordance based on my opinion of this anime and their opinion comparing this to the originals.

Plans for this show: Will watch

Danganronpa 3 – The End of Kibougamine Gakuen (Danganronpa 3 – The End of Hope’s Peak Academy)

Opinion: So it seems as though there will be two Danganronpa 3 anime this season.  The first one to air will be the Mirai-hen (Future Side) story which appears to be a sequel to Danganronpa 2: Goodbye Despair (PSP game) and center itself on Makoto Naegi, the protagonist from both Dangaronpa and Danganronpa 2, and the Future Foundation.  The second one to air will be the Zetsubou-hen (Despair Side) story, which is apparently a prequel to Danganronpa 2 and on the Remnants of Despair (pretty much the polar opposite of the Future Foundation).  So… we pretty much have two anime on the good guys (Mirai) and the bad guys (Zetsubou) this season which are also a sequel and prequel to Danganronpa 2 (which has no anime).  If you’re anxious or timid about spoilers, it’d probably be best to finish the game first.  For me, I enjoyed the first anime and am intrigued by this sequel… and, I guess super sequel.

Plans for this show: Will watch

Arslan Senki: Fuujin Ranbu (The Heroic Legend of Arslan: Dust Storm Dance)

Opinion: The Arslan Senki anime from 2015 was a satisfying show thanks to its meticulous setting, its sophisticated cast of characters, and engaging battle sequences.  Unfortunately for Arslan, the anime had issues with its focus and pacing, seemingly unwilling or unable to advance its story after the cast of characters assembled near the beginning.  Fortunately, the sequel set to return this Summer is a shorter version (going from 25 episode to 8 episodes), meaning my concerns over the storytelling and plot development should be mitigated, unless of course these 8 episodes are an entire arc of Arslan lost in the desert or mountains for a few years.

Plans for this show: Likely watch

Handa-kun

Opinion: As the prequel to the much respected calligraphy anime Barakamon, I would normally expect a lot from Handa-kun.  That said, the PV and synopsis for Handa-kun seem to deviate away from the slice-of-life and healing genre of Barakamon and move toward a pedestrian gag-comedy in a high school.  I can’t say I genuinely enjoyed the comedy in Barakamon enough to watch it without the other rewarding aspects, and I’m worries that Handa-kun will feel like an hollow version of Barakamon without the fantastic cast and story that made Barakamon so enjoyable.  And to make matters worse, the PV does little to nothing for me.  Hopefully I’ll be wrong about this, but I don’t expect to be watching very much of Handa-kun.

Plans for this show: Doubtful but it gets a shot

The following two sections of the preview contains a list of all the new, original anime that will debut during the Summer 2016 anime season, with the first section on the anime I am planning on screening and the latter section the anime I have already rejected.

The new franchises of Summer 2016 show quite some hope of salvaging a decent anime season, but given the number of shows and my feelings toward them at this time, it feels like this will be a light season.  Then again, what’s important is that I enjoy the anime I watch, and there are a number of shows with promise and potential to be a successful anime season.  We’ll see how it goes, but the ones at the top provide some optimism and encouragement for an otherwise small anime season. My plans for Summer 2016 are as follows:

Amanchu!

Opinion: Have I ever mentioned that Aria is one of my favorite anime franchises?  Like, not just favorite, in the top 0.5% of anime franchises for me?  Well, after Kozue Amano finished the Aria manga in 2008, she started on Amanchu! and has been publishing it ever sense.  And while Amanchu! doesn’t identify with the same type of reverence and acclaim as Aria, Amanchu! seems to be cut from the same cloth and the reason why this is the most excited I’ve been for a new anime since Fate/stay night: Unlimited Blade Works.  Amanchu! has all the charming, endearing qualities of Aria, but I do wonder how it will fare with its characters, their chemistry, and the fantasy of the world around them.  Given that the sci-fi and fantasy elements of the setting appear to be missing, or at the very least replaced by a gorgeous underwater world, I do wonder how it will differ from Aria given the number of similarities between the two.  Still, there seems to be enough differences between the two (one’s above the water, the other is below) and I am curious to see this ragtag bunch of misfits and their adventures in the Scuba Club.  Regardless, I know that this will be one anime I will keep for its entire duration.  The main thing I want to see from this is for Amanchu! to distinguish itself and to journey on its own path.

Plans for this show: Will watch

Planetarian: Chiisana Hoshi no Yume (Planetarian: The Reverie of a Little Planet)

Opinion: Planetarian will air both a movie and a 5-episode ONA in 2016.  This section focuses on the ONA rather than the movie, and the ONA is a sequel to the movie… though the movie airs in September well after the sequel finishes.  Fortunately, the ONA and movie appear to be side stories to the original Plantearian visual novel as these new anime are based off the Planetarian light novel and act as prequels and epilogues to the original visual novel from 2004.  I am hoping to complete the VN prior to starting the anime, in order to experience the story in the order it was released, and have few reservations about this series as a whole.  The story, characters, setting, and art are all positives to me at this point, so unless I have unforeseen issues with the franchise after finishing the VN, then I’m pretty sure I’ll keep this.

Plans for this show: Likely watch

Tales of Zestiria the X (Tales of Zestiria the Cross)

Opinion: Though I have a fond impression of the “Tales of” series of games, I’ve never played one.  However, I’ve always been interested in the franchise and am thankful that an anime adaptation of its most recent game, Tales of Zestiria, is out this season.  That said, I have a loose understanding of what to expect from this anime but am looking forward to it nonetheless.  And while the characters, story, and setting will be a surprise to me, I already know I will love the art and music, based off the sample from the PV alone.  This should be a solid choice for the season and, who knows, maybe it will be a gateway into playing the earlier games like I’ve always intended.

Plans for this show: Likely watch

91 Days

Opinion: What intrigues me the most about 91 Days is that it is an anime about revenge and retribution.  You really don’t see that all too often, especially with this type of setting, style, and feel. Most dramas in anime are often attributed to teenagers, but this one seems to be set around adults… and the mafia… and bootlegging.  You can probably count me in for this.

Plans for this show: Maybe watch

Amaama to Inazuma (Sweetness and Lightning)

Opinion: Amaama to Inazuma looks sugary, charismatic, and all-round delightful given that this slife-comedy anime is about a teacher who cares for his daughter after her mother’s death.  Somewhat akin to Usagi Drop and Barakamon, Amaama to Inazuma looks like an easygoing, fun, and cute anime that hopefully is high on entertainment value and low on melodrama and forced melancholy.

Plans for this show: Maybe watch

Mob Psycho 100

Opinion: From the creator of One Punch Man, comes Mob Psycho 100, a comedy-action anime about a teenager with psychic abilities.  Given the success and enjoyment with One Punch Man, I figure Mob Psycho 100 would be a certainty, but I do wonder how it will fare given the similarities and parallels between the two.  I am already sold on the style and animation of Mob Psycho 100, but I do wonder if it will be stuck in the shadow of One Punch Man, similar to my concerns over Amanchu! and Aria.  I figure that this is a safe bet this season, though I wouldn’t hesitate to drop it if it has issues with its comedy or characters.

Plans for this show: Maybe watch

New Game!

Opinion: Oh, finally, an all-girl super cutesy, moe slife-comedy anime.  Shows like these are often my guilty pleasure, especially if the comedy is good and its focused on a topic that I like.  New Game! focuses on a recent high school graduate joining the video game industry, but it seems to be more Sore ga Seiyuu! than Shirobako.  Still, the PV is encouraging and I am interested to see where this anime goes with its characters, its story, and its comedy.

Plans for this show: Maybe watch

Rewrite

Opinion: Rewrite is the popular Key VN released in 2011 about a ragtag bunch of misfits and their adventures in the Occult Club.  And while Key is a promising name, having made a number of anime that I’ve watched and enjoyed, I don’t really feel the hype or excitement over this, especially since it seems to be less of my style than other Key franchises (like Planetarian).  Who knows, maybe this one will surprise me, but I am thinking this will be watchable and mediocre.

Plans for this show: Maybe watch

Ange Vierge

Opinion: An anime based on a card game is a risky bet, given the lack of direction with its content and pacing, but Ange Vierge might have redeeming qualities elsewhere based on the sampling from its PV.  I’m not quite sure exactly what to think of it given that it has some good mixed with bad, but I am willing to give it an episode or two to see how it unfolds and what the characters are exactly like.  However, that’s not the warmest endorsement of an anime and I have a feeling that one or two episodes is all this show will get.

Plans for this show: Doubtful but it gets a shot

Battery

Opinion: Despite loving sports and dramas, sports-dramas are probably among my least favorite genre in anime.  I typically find myself favoring more color, energetic, fantastical anime that bleed personality, comedy, and style… and Battery feels like a cold polar-opposite.  I’m not saying that this will be a bad anime, but it doesn’t look like the kind of anime I find myself enjoying.  Still, I figure an episode or two couldn’t hurt.  And who knows, maybe one of these days, I’ll finally catch on with these sports dramas.

Plans for this show: Doubtful but it gets a shot

Hitori no Shita: The Outcast

Opinion: Zombies, superpowers, and a lot of action are usually a pretty decent combination for a story. Yet, despite featuring those elements all throughout the PV, I’m not feeling Hitori no Shita: The Outcast.  Perhaps the reasons is that the PV feels somewhat bland, lacking in terms of style and personality beyond fighting hordes of zombies.  It’s as though the anime thought it would be about fighting zombies, but not much else beyond fighting zombies.  I’ll give it an episode for a chance to prove me wrong and prove it’s worth keeping, but it doesn’t excite me or intrigue me at this point.

Plans for this show: Doubtful but it gets a shot

Kono Bijutsubu ni wa Mondai ga Aru! (There’s a Problem with this Art Club!)

Opinion: Kono Bijutsubu ni wa Mondai ga Aru! is a school club-comedy anime about a dysfunctional ragtag bunch of misfits and their adventures in the Art Club.  The characters all embody serious character flaws and these are likely to drive the comedy, so there doesn’t seem to be much reason to expect much novelty from this school club-comedy compared to the others in this genre.  Still, if the comedy works out, I’ll consider keeping it.  Otherwise, if the characters, chemistry, or comedy fail to impress me, then I won’t be sad to see this school club anime go.

Plans for this show: Doubtful but it gets a shot

Nejimaki Seirei Senki: Tenkyou no Alderamin (Alderamin on the Sky)

Opinion: The PV for Nejimaki Seirei Senki does not fill me with confidence about this anime, and the main reason why I’m giving this an episode or two is because of the military theme in this type of fantasy style.  I am not expecting much from Nejimaki Seirei Senki, but I want to give it an opportunity to prove itself since a few elements do appeal to me.  That said, I don’t have high hopes for this anime and doubt I’ll even last through the first episode…

Plans for this show: Doubtful but it gets a shot

Orange

Opinion: I was thinking about continuing the rhyming theme throughout, but when I came to the title “Orange” I knew I would be defeated.  So you can thank Orange for that.  As for the anime itself, I’m not sure this is my style.  Orange feels like sappy, melodramatic shoujo romance about a girl saving a guy and erasing her future regrets.  I can already imagine a lot of miscommunication, crying in isolation, and other sentimental things that are intended to make the reader feel a sense of empathy and connection to the character, but usually comes off as boring and tedious to me.  I might give this more than one episode, but this really doesn’t seem like the kind of anime I would enjoy.

Plans for this show: Doubtful but it gets a shot

Qualidea Code

Opinion: So Qualidea Code is about kids in the future with magical superpowers fighting to save humanity from some unknown enemy.  It… it might be good, but the chances of that are pretty low given its generic, dull synopsis.  The PV doesn’t do much to help, but maybe, just maybe if you look hard enough, you’ll find some personality or something unique about this show that makes it stand out from the rest.  I’ll try looking for one episode but if I don’t see anything worthwhile, I’ll drop this.

Plans for this show: Doubtful but it gets a shot

ReLIFE

Opinion: So ReLIFE is an anime about a guy making the worst decision of his life and giving up his autonomy and freedom as an adult for mundane, boring, throw-away days back in high school.  Seriously, I don’t get the fascination with going back to high school in anime…. high school sucks.  So unless the anime is about this guy hating his decision and regretting it for 13 episodes, then no, I probably won’t give this more than an episode.

Plans for this show: Doubtful but it gets a shot

Taboo Tattoo

Opinion: Another magical powers fighting anime, Taboo Tattoo at least has some promise with its PV showing some interesting action and some talent in its animation and cinematography.  Still, I don’t watch anime for animation and cinematography alone, but Taboo Tattoo would get first pick over some of the other anime in this field.  However, I can’t be too certain about this given the one-guy-six-girls promo art that I’ve seen for this show, so hopefully it doesn’t turn into an action-harem or something awful.

Plans for this show: Doubtful but it gets a shot

Time Travel Shoujo: Mari Waka to 8-nin no Kagakusha-tachi (Time Travel Girl)

Opinion: Finally, an anime adaptation to the SNES game Mario’s Time Machine.  Pretty much, Time Travel Shoujo is similar to Mario’s Time Machine in many ways, given its educational intentions, the famous people they interact with, and the fact that neither is all too appealing to me.  Perhaps Time Travel Shoujo can prove me wrong with its characters, comedy, and whatnot, but I won’t get my hopes up for this anime.

Plans for this show: Doubtful but it gets a shot

The first two sections confirm the lists of anime that I am planning on watching based on my knowledge and understanding of the shows.  All that remains in this season preview are the anime that I have already decided against.  The reason why these anime are slotted here is because they either appear to already be flawed, boring, or simply outside my demographic.  While these anime may in fact be watchable to some, they do not appear watchable for me.  I doubt I’ll examine these anime any more than the PV linked in their sections.  However, there’s always a chance for me to pick one or two up every season, so not all hope is lost for these shows if you see one of your favorites down here.  However, for most of them, there’s already zero chance I’ll even think about them after writing my opinions for each.

B-Project: Kodou*Ambitious

Opinion: What, was the name ‘A-Project’ taken?  So much for being ambitious like its title suggests.

Plans for this show: No dice

Fukigen na Mononokean (The Morose Mononokean)

Opinion: If I can’t make it through the PV, then I probably won’t make it through a season of this anime.  Colors are nice though.

Plans for this show: No dice

Hatsukoi Monster (First Love Monster)

Opinion: Something about a high school girl dating a 5^th grade who looks like an adult.  Doesn’t sound the least bit interesting.

Plans for this show: No dice

Masou Gakuen HxH (Hybrid x Heart Magias Academy Ataraxia)

Opinion: To be honest, I’d probably watch many of these fujoshi shows before even attempting something like this.  That’s how bad I think this is.

Plans for this show: No dice

Momokuri

Opinion: Too tame, too tepid, too generic.  Sure, it’s cute, but the content and personality just aren’t there.

Plans for this show: No dice

Regalia: The Three Sacred Stars

Opinion: Regalia feels shallow and uninspiring.  It might not be, but that’s my impression from the PV and synopsis.

Plans for this show: No dice

Saiki Kusuo no Psi-nan (The Disasterous Life of Saiki K.)

Opinion: I’ll let someone else test out the comedy before I try this.  Weekly Shounen Jump manga adaptations really aren’t my thing.

Plans for this show: No dice

Scared Rider Xechs

Opinion: For what it’s worth, one-guy-six-girls is just as bad as one-girl-six-guys.

Plans for this show: No dice

Servamp

Opinion: I didn’t even bother reading the synopsis for this one.

Plans for this show: No dice

As always, I’ll be providing my reviews and opinions for most of these anime in my First Impressions posts once each these shows debut and once I actually get around to watching them.  Until that time, I hope everyone enjoys the start of the Summer 2016 anime season!

This post reviews: Berserk (2016), Rewrite, Orange, Tales of Zestiria the X, Amaama to Inazuma, Taboo Tattoo, New Game!, Amanchu!, 91 Days, Hitori no Shita: The Outcast, Time Travel Shoujo, Handa-kun, Qualidea Code, Ange Vierge, Kono Bijutsubu ni wa Mondai ga Aru!, Planetarian: Chiisana Hoshi no Yume, Danganronpa 3 Mirai-hen, Danganronpa 3 Zetsubou-hen, Mob Psycho 100, and Battery.

So, yeah… I’m just a tad bit late with this post.  I also figured I’d combine everything into one colossal post since I am just a little late and that there’d be no point in clicking through 4 posts to see one opinion on one episode that aired almost two months ago.  Nevertheless, this First Impressions post will give you an insight into what I tried, what issues I’ve had with those shows, and some thoughts on what I am watching and enjoying, too.  So with that, here are my summaries from the first few weeks of the Summer 2016 anime season!

Watching:

Berserk (2016)

I’m new to the Berserk franchise, so I can’t really say how it compares to the original TV series or the movies.  That actually may work in my advantage since a number of people who have seen the originals have voiced disappointment whereas I am content and satisfied.  Yes, there are some issues with Berserk, but even with those flaws, it’s still one of the most enjoyable anime this season.  The atmosphere and aesthetics are so different from everything else that I can’t help but be intrigued by this fantasy adventure story.  And while I often fault 3D animation for its appearance, there has been some nice choreography and cinematography in the first few episodes to mitigate my fears.  Overall, Berserk 2016 is an engaging and enchanting anime to watch this summer.

Amaama to Inazuma (Sweetness and Lightning)

Oh, well isn’t that sweet?  Amaama to Inazuma certainly has the charm and appeal to be the surprise of the season.  Its scenario – connecting a single father to his young daughter through cooking lessons – is an endearing and winning formula.  The characters feel genuine and the development has felt natural, allowing the chemistry and dialogue to flourish.  And who doesn’t look watching people cook delicious food?  Amaama to Inazuma has won me over and is certain to be one of my favorite anime this season.

New Game!

New Game! has all the elements of a successful moe, slife comedy: a simple, plausible setting that’s just slightly unique (video game company versus school club), an amusing collection of characters (who all just happen to be cute girls), and decent enough 4koma gag jokes that make me smile more often than not.  New Game! does well where I want it to do well and it makes for an magnetic 24 minutes each episode.  It might not be for everyone, but I find it fun and delightful and it’s a keeper for this summer.

Amanchu!

Yes. Yes.  A thousand times yes (and that still wouldn’t be enough!).  Amanchu! is the premier anime of 2016.  Amanchu! is gorgeous, magnanimous, heartwarming, spellbinding, and unparalleled.  Everything about it is an A++, from its aesthetic to its characters to its setting to its story and especially its music.  I mean, how often do I talk about music in an anime?  I knew that I would love Amanchu!, but I didn’t expect to love it this much.  This will easily be one of the top anime that I have watched since I started blogging and certainly one that I would recommend to anyone and everyone.

91 Days

There are quite a few anime that try to capture and recreate this 1920s, Prohibition-era United States setting, but most seem to miss the mark with its personality and mood.  Not 91 Days… though it might as the series carries on.  91 Days convinced me to keep it with its anxious ambiance, its shadowy setting, and its love for alcohol and revenge.  I don’t feel as strongly about 91 Days as I do with some of the other anime on this list, mainly because I wonder how well it will maintain this focus and style.  If it can continue, then great, but otherwise, I have a sinking feeling considering the other similar anime before this.

Time Travel Shoujo (Time Travel Girl)

It certainly doesn’t have the flash, style, or pizazz that other anime have this season, but Time Travel Shoujo is a solid anime that is simple, cute, and educational.  It requires little to no effort and is more fun than not.  It certainly won’t be in the top half of the anime I watch this season, but it provides enough enjoyment and entertainment that I figure it should be worthwhile this season.

Planetarian: Chiisana Hoshi no Yume (Planetarian: The Reverie of a Little Planet)

I finished playing (reading?) Planetarian before the first episode aired, and I absolutely loved the visual novel.  Not only that, but I absolutely love the anime, too.  While there are some differences in how the anime was adapted, I feel that this TV anime supplements the visual novel by providing motion, emotion, pacing, and a better geospatial understanding of space and positioning.  Whereas I feel that the visual novel performs better with its storytelling and comedy, I find that the anime makes up for this with movement, facial expressions, consistent pacing, and knowing where the hell the guy is sitting in that planetarium.  In fact, this is what anime is all about: animation.  I strongly recommend reading (playing?) the visual novel, though it seems like this anime is a faithful adaptation minus a few missing internal monologs.  Oh, and the movie that’s coming out, is certainly on my “To Watch” list for this year.

Danganronpa 3 Mirai-hen (Danganronpa 3 Future) and Danganronpa 3 Zetsubou-hen (Danganronpa 3 Despair)

The two Danganronpa 3 anime this season are essentially one long, parallel series given the phenomenal transition between the end of Future and the beginning of Despair.  Yeah, that handoff between the two was sensational, and I’m looking forward to seeing how these two series and their characters intertwine.  The first Danganronpa was actually pretty good by my standards, but I think this sequel will blow that one away given its improved budget, directing, and vision.  I’d really love to see more anime created in relation like this, with the only notable example coming to mind being xxxHOLiC and Tsubasa Chronicle.

Mob Psycho 100

Although Mob Psycho 100 is destined to live in the shadow of One Punch Man, there are certainly some elements to distinguish it from its big brother that actually lead me to believe I might like MP1 more than OPM.  Still, there is plenty of material left in this series, but I have enjoyed the first few episodes in terms of its humor, personality, and animation.  Nonetheless, I do wonder where this series will go with its story and characters, but in the meanwhile, it has been a pleasant comedy with intense, energetic, and hilarious characters.

4x’ing:

Taboo Tattoo

Taboo Tattoo survives, albeit barely, thanks in part to the fighting and comedy in its first episode.  Really, I don’t expect much substance or creativity from the show, but I do want to experience the fight scenes and the better comedy scenes since they did stimulate my brain just enough to consider keeping it.  In an anime where the valleys far outnumber the peaks, I feel that 4x’ing Taboo Tattoo will let me visit the peaks more than the valleys and that doing so will be worthwhile this summer.

Dropped:

Rewrite

I disliked the protagonist after the first episode and hated him after two.  The visual quality was shockingly abysmal, too, which was unexpected considering the success of the visual novel.  Those two things, plus the uncertain length of the series, was more than enough reason for me to drop it after two episodes.

Orange

I’ve always complained about generic, self-insert male protagonists in anime, so I might as well do the same when it’s a generic, self-insert female protagonist.  Not only was Naho painfully devoid of personality, but the sappy melodrama and the uninspiring romance where huge turn-offs.  I quit when Naho hit the home run in the first episode.

Tales of Zestiria the X

Although the first three episodes of Tales of Zestiria the X were decent, I elected to drop the series now and turn to the game.  As a stand-alone anime, Zestiria the X would have been a keeper, but I feel the major issues that this anime faced, in terms of storytelling and pacing, would be solved by playing the game.  I guess it’s somewhat of a win for the anime to convince me to play the game, but it still counts as a dropped anime at the end of the day.

Hitori no Shita: The Outcast

Hitori no Shita failed to hook me with its characters, story, or setting.  Maybe it could’ve captured me with a different production team and more money, but it really never felt satisfying or enjoyable when watching the first episode.

Handa-kun

Why did they make this and not more Barakamon? No, of course I didn’t take screenshots of this disaster.

Qualidea Code

The only reason why I wanted to give this a chance is because the girls are cute.  And yes, they’re cute.  But they’re not cute enough to make me watch this anime.

Ange Vierge

I actually thought about keeping Ange Vierge around since the entire cast was naked for about 15 minutes, and I didn’t pay attention to the story or setting or characters or anything.  Then episode 2 aired and they were naked for only 5 minutes, so I had to pay attention to the other elements and, boy, what a letdown everything else was.

Kono Bijutsubu ni wa Mondai ga Aru! (There’s a Problem with this Art Club!)

Kono Bijutsubu ni wa Mondai ga Aru! had some brilliant animation and aesthetics, making the first episode a pleasure to watch.  The first episode also had jokes – not necessarily good or bad – and a decent cast of characters.  The main reason for dropping this is that it didn’t have anything special or unique to it, that it felt derivative and undistinguished.  If it was more than a school club comedy, then maybe… but I felt like I’ve watched this show a dozen times before.

Battery

Battery has a decent skeleton, in terms of how it structures its story, characters, and their budding relationship.  The primary complaint with Battery is that it was just too slow and monotonous.  For an anime about an ace pitcher, it moved at a snail’s pace.  And beyond my issues with the storytelling, I often am picky with how sports anime are portrayed, and I didn’t feel as though Battery would leave me satisfied with that aspect.

Every season has its defining features.  Autumn, for example, is known for its bountiful harvests and leaves falling to the ground.  Likewise, every anime season has its distinguishing characteristics thanks to the anime that air within its interval.  Sometimes, anime seasons are bountiful, like an autumn harvest, and others are barren, like the trees after shedding their leaves.  What type of season will Autumn 2016 bring us?  Let’s take a peak and see what we have in store for the final season of 2016.

Easily my greatest regret of this year has been the inability to voice my thoughts and feelings with the anime I am watching, especially with the last two seasons.  There have been plenty of wonderful, delightful anime that I’ve watched and loved, yet I haven’t had the time to sit down and pen my thoughts into posts.  It’s a disappointment, for sure, and something I hope to address with a new season of anime around the corner.  Whether this becomes a reality has yet to be determined, but I’d love nothing more than to begin writing again.  Here’s hoping that Autumn 2016 will allow me just that.

As always, the order of anime listed below is neither chronological nor alphabetic but are categorized into sequels and new shows, and then ranked in order of my personal anticipation and how likely I believe I will watch that anime this season.  Every anime is evaluated and placed into one of five tiers ordered: Will watch, Likely watch, Maybe watch, Doubtful but it gets a shot, and No dice.  Within each tier, the anime are listed alphabetically.  Dates are not included because who knows when and where these shows will be subbed and available to watch… and really, that’s the most important date to know.

Autumn and Spring seasons are known for their bounty in terms of the volume of anime that air.  These seasons often broadcast more anime than their Winter and Summer season counterparts, so it shouldn’t be surprising to see a large number of anime return next month.  For Autumn 2016, we’ll see the return of 22 anime franchises in the forms of sequels and spinoffs, and of those, 4 are true TV-length series that I am planning on continuing.

Autumn 2016 will broadcast: 12-sai. ~Chicchana Mune no Tokimeki~ Second Season, Ajin Second Season, Ame-iro Cocoa 3, Anitore! XX, Bishoujo Yuugi Unit Crane Game Girls Second Season, Brave Witches, Bubuki Buranki: Hoshi no Kyojin, Bungou Stray Dogs Second Season, Chi’s Sweet Home 3, Digimon Universe: Appli Monsters, Haikyuu!!: Karasuno Koukou VS Shiratorizawa Gakuen Koukou, Hibike! Euphonium 2, Kaitou Joker Fourth Season, Lostorange Incited WIXOSS, Mahou Shoujo Nante Mou Ii Desu Kara. 2nd Season, Mobile Suit Gundam: Iron-Blooded Orphans 2nd Season, Natsume Yuujinchou Go, Okusama ga Seitokaichou! +1, Show By Rock!! #, Teekyuu 8, Uta no Prince-sama Maji Love Legend Star, and WWW.Working!!.  Below are my thoughts and opinions on the franchises that I have experience with and am anticipating continuing.  As for all the others, the source material and previous anime are probably your best bet for what to expect with those anime.

Hibike! Euphonium 2

Opinion: Hibike! Euphonium ended up as my sixth favorite anime of 2015, primarily thanks to its ingenious narrative, radiant visuals, and phenomenal passion.  The original was an exceptional, satisfying anime that precisely sculpted its characters from troubled teenagers to peerless performances who strove for distinction.  And what made the original so spectacular, so unparalleled, so high-quality is that it made me care.  And that’s why I am so enthused about a continuation of Hibike! Euphonium is that I am confident that this anime will continue to build upon its achievements and reach for glory.  And I’ll be here to enjoy it as the Kitauji High School Music Club embarks on yet another amazing chapter.

Plans for this show: Will watch

Brave Witches

Opinion: Brave Witches is a spinoff of the Strike Witches franchise, but instead of focusing on the 501st Joint Fighter Wing in the British Isles, this anime follows the 502nd Joint Fighter Wing fighting for freedom above the Russian tundra and Baltic Sea.  As you might assume, I enjoyed the original Strike Witch anime, taking particular interest to more of the slife, humor, and entertainment aspects than the fighting, military, and whatnot.  Brave Witches seems to have a healthy balance of both, so it seems on par with the previous two seasons.  One positive heading into this is that I am eager to meet the 502nd cast, given that there seems to be a bunch of vibrant personalities.  The PV above seems to suggest that this will be less ecchi than the original, but that’s not saying much since the anime’s trademark is kemonomimi girls flying around in their panties fighting aliens.  And while there might be fewer panties than the original Strike Witches, you could probably say that for 99% of anime.  Still, it looks to be one of the more entertaining and enjoyable anime this season.

Plans for this show: Likely watch

WWW.Working!!

Opinion: This is the right step and also the wrong step in the beloved Working!! franchise.  To me, it is a step in the right direction since it doesn’t try to undo any of the advancements, reset the progress, or prolong the story that wrapped up with its finale OVA in March 2016.  But at the same time, it’s also a step in the wrong direction given that… well, it’s essentially an entirely new anime.  It will be challenging to reinvest in a new set of characters with this style of comedy and this unique setting.  Nonetheless, this is its own standing manga that is separate from the anime story, so maybe there is some novelties here that were not feasible in the other storyline.  Still, given the success of this franchise, I’m willing to give this spinoff a proper chance.

Plans for this show: Likely watch

Mobile Suit Gundam: Iron-Blooded Orphans 2nd Season

Opinion: The first season of Gundam IBO started out exceptionally well.  The episodes on Mars were strong and focused, and the series felt advanced in such a renowned franchise.  Then they went to space.  And it was filler up until their arrival on Earth.  You can’t blame me for losing attention and appreciation for a series when there’s no progress or emotion for almost 20 episodes.  And that’s what I worry with this second season.  That, and I really don’t have a strong connection with the cast or any investment in the story.  I certainly hope this second season proves me wrong, but it will require significant work in order to win me over again.

Plans for this show: Maybe watch

Shorts to watch: Anitore! XX, Mahou Shoujo Nante Mou Ii Desu Kara. 2nd Season, and Teekyuu 8.

The following two sections of the preview contains a list of all the new, original anime that will debut during the Autumn 2016 anime season, with the first section on the anime I am planning on screening and the latter section the anime I have already rejected.

Based on prior experiences – and the fact that I’m wrong every season – I now feel that it’s best to greet each season with as little hype as possible.  Rather than create a false image based on a minute or two of promotional videos and a few lines of a synopsis, I feel that it’s only fair to go into a season with an open-mind.  Still, despite this new approach, there are still some anime I am looking forward to more than others, including some that I’ve already seen too much of.  So with that, below is a list of the anime that made the first set of cuts for Autumn 2016:

Sangatsu no Lion (March Comes Like a Lion)

Opinion: Sangatsu no Lion (3–gatsu no Lion) has all the right ingredients, but does it have the right recipe?  Individually, all the elements seem like positives, given its characters, style, themes, and environment.  The question is, how well do all these elements come together in a story?  Or rather, will it create genuine drama or melodrama?  Will the pacing be sluggish or dynamic?  Will it be emotional or emotionless?  It’s hard to say, but I have a hidden feeling that, despite it looking like the best new anime of the season, that it’ll have some issues that keep it from being my favorite.  But, based on the PV, the presentation, the synopsis, and the generally positive recommendations, I’m heading into this season with this as the frontrunner.

Plans for this show: Likely watch

Flip Flappers

Opinion: If animation were everything, then Flip Flappers would be a star.  But fortunately (or unfortunately depending on how you look at it), there are affectionate characters, vibrant settings, and marvelous stories.  Flip Flappers certainly sells me on its phenomenal art and animation, but not much of anything else.  Every other aspect of this anime is a great unknown, and, quite frankly, seem like honest weaknesses to me.  An anime needs to have substantive content in order for it to be fulfilling… but all I see with Flip Flappers is a pretty generic comedy anime dressed up as one of the most beautiful anime of the year. I’ll be interested in this anime for its animation, no doubt, but will that be enough for me to watch it this season?  Guess we’ll find out.

Plans for this show: Maybe watch

Nobunaga no Shinobi

Opinion: I love cute chibi anime.  I don’t think I could handle 24 minutes of this at a time, so thankfully this is a short and probably will just be cute and funny the whole time.  Count me in for 5 or so relaxing minutes each week.

Plans for this show: Maybe watch

Shuumatsu no Izetta (Izetta, The Last Witch)

Opinion: Shuumatsu no Izetta claims to be an original anime, but I’ve played Valkyria Chronicles.

Anyway, Shuumatsu no Izetta catches my attention with its setting, scenery, and semi-accurate military history.  Izetta certainly has a solid foundation, containing all the right elements to build up a solid anime, but I am weary of where the story will go and what it will focus on given that it seems to be about a princess and a witch.  I’d be more interested in this anime if the scope was focused on the entire cast and how the war was affecting them, but it seems to be more on the interpersonal relationship between Izetta, the witch, and Fine, the princess.  Still, it’s hard to pass up an anime with an environment and setting like this, so I’ll be more invested in this than most other anime this season.

Plans for this show: Maybe watch

Drifters

Opinion: Drifters is another anime with a strong style and presentation, but with a story and setting that seems rather empty.  Or to clarify, I’m excited to hear that this anime will be about a bunch of famous samurai and warriors fighting each other in another dimension, but I’m left asking “but why?”.  I’m anticipating that there’ll be some catch where the winner will be revived or something, but it still feels rather empty without an actual story to support it.  Nonetheless, Drifters certainly catches my eye and is worth an episode or two to see if it’s worth keeping.

Plans for this show: Doubtful but it gets a shot

Keijo!!!!!!!! (Hip Whip Girl)

Opinion: Keijo!!!!!!!! has 8 exclamation points in its title.  One more or one less and I will have no clue what you’re talking about.  And yes, you have to count all 8 exclamation points each time, otherwise you don’t know if you’re talking about the prequel or its sequel.  I wonder if they’ll name the spinoff Keijo????????

Anyway, Keijo!!!!!!!! seems like an interesting ecchi comedy anime given that it doesn’t try to hide its fanservice and puts it front and center as its main selling-point.  I can’t blame it for that, knowing what it wants to be and succeeding at being a trashy fanservice anime.  I tend to like ecchi anime if they have an all-female cast, so I am inclined to give this an episode or two and see if it’s my style.  Please don’t judge me if I end up liking this.

Plans for this show: Doubtful but it gets a shot

Long Riders!

Opinion: Long Riders has only 1 exclamation point.  Can you really trust an anime with only 1 exclamation point in its title?

So, Long Riders! is an anime about 5 girls who cycle together.  Long Riders! shares a number of similar elements to the typical ‘school club’ genre that is hit-or-miss, so it doesn’t stand out very much.  Additionally, the animation and aesthetics in the PV lead me to believe it’s somewhat lower budget than the other anime surrounding it.  Still, I can’t find much wrong with the anime at this point and feel that an episode or two might prove fruitful.  It really depends on the comedy, the slice-of-life, and how much it focuses on cycling.  If it has a health balance of each, then I’ll be taking this along for the ride this season.

Plans for this show: Doubtful but it gets a shot

Luger Code 1951

Opinion: Luger Code 1951 is an anime about people trying to decipher encrypted werewolf radio transmissions by capturing a cute werewolf girl.  It, uh… it doesn’t have the same type of impact or impression that the other anime on this list have, but I’m not able to find much in the way of concrete information about this anime that would support my decision one way or the other at this point.  It has my attention given that one of the main characters is a werewolf girl, so I’ll give it an episode or two to see if it’s worth keeping.

Plans for this show: Doubtful but it gets a shot

Mahou Shoujo Ikusei Keikaku (Magical Girl Raising Project)

Opinion: The synopsis for Mahou Shoujo Ikusei Keikaku is certainly interesting, hinting that this anime will be about a survival game between 16 magical girls.  But, after watching the PV, it seems to be pretty cute with chibi girls cosplaying as ninjas, knights, witches, and whatnot.  Will it be a cute survival game with comedic fighting or will it be unadulterated and dramatic, with thrilling action and emotional death scenes?  I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t curious and will be interested to see which path this anime takes.

Plans for this show: Doubtful but it gets a shot

Occultic;Nine

Opinion: Like many of the other anime in this tier, Occultic;Nine doesn’t have a lot of material or information out, but of the material and information out, it seems like it has a decent chance of being a good anime.  At this point, the strengths in Occultic;Nine are its diverse cast of characters and its somewhat serious and somber tone.  The designs are certainly noticeable, which is always a positive to me, and the atmosphere seems to be eerie or haunting, so something that could work given its scenario.  However, it’s hard to read much more into that given that these are about all the facts I have on this anime, so it will be best to have an open-mind when heading into the first episode.

Plans for this show: Doubtful but it gets a shot

Shakunetsu no Takkyuu Musume (Ping Pong Girl)

Opinion: Sakunetsu no Takkyuu Musume looks like a cheap and generic ‘school club’ anime… but really what determines whether or not it will be good or not is up to its characters and comedy.  Now, it’s certainly harder to get excited when all I see about this anime is another school club setting and substandard visuals, but the heart of this anime will be how its characters grow and the humor it is able to produce.  I can’t say that I have high hopes for this anime, but it’s worth an episode at this point.

Plans for this show: Doubtful but it gets a shot

Udon no Kuni no Kiniro Kemari (Poco’s Udon World)

Opinion: There’s a huge disconnect between what I like and what I don’t like about this anime already.  On one hand, the visuals and setting are some of the best this season.  There is no doubt that these elements are strong enough to keep me interested and invest in an anime like this all season.  The real questions is, whether this will be a story about the dude taking care of this fox kid or if it will follow the fox kid on his wild youkai adventures with a human caretaker.  Either way, I’m not really all that interested in the story or the characters.  It’s just not my style to see something like this, and I’m really wondering whether I want to watch this or not.  I’ll give it an episode since it has a number of strong positives, but that might be it depending on how the characters and story unfold.

Plans for this show: Doubtful but it gets a shot

Yuri!!! on Ice

Opinion: Only 3 exclamation points?  Are you even trying Yuri!!! on Ice?

Sports anime are among my least favorite genre of anime and there’s little to excite me about Yuri!!! on Ice.  Yes, the animation is gorgeous and stunning, and yes, male ice skating is certainly distinctive as a theme, but what else is there to Yuri!!! on Ice?  Hard to say at this point.  There certainly are plenty of positive indicators for this anime, but the real question isn’t about its quality, it’s about whether it’s something that I can enjoy or not.  At this point, I’m willing to give this an episode to see whether it defies or confirms my expectations.

Plans for this show: Doubtful but it gets a shot

The first two sections confirm the lists of anime that I am planning on watching based on my knowledge and understanding of the shows.  All that remains in this season preview are the anime that I have already decided against.  The reason why these anime are slotted here is because they either appear to already be flawed, boring, or simply outside my demographic.  While these anime may in fact be watchable to some, they do not appear watchable for me.  I doubt I’ll examine these anime any more than the PV linked in their sections.  However, there’s always a chance for me to pick one or two up every season, so not all hope is lost for these shows if you see one of your favorites down here.  However, for most of them, there’s already zero chance I’ll even think about them after writing my opinions for each.

All Out!!

Opinion: Rugby might be fun but not with those character designs.

Plans for this show: No dice

ClassicaLoid

Opinion: Something about famous composers fighting things with their music or something?  I honestly have no motivation for this, even when researching it for this post.

Plans for this show: No dice

Dream Festival

Opinion: I propose we rename this anime ‘Nightmare Festival’ because watching this would be a nightmare for me.

Plans for this show: No dice

Fune wo Amu

Opinion: If the 30 seconds of this PV leave me bored, imagine what 24 minutes would do to me.

Plans for this show: No dice

Girlish Number

Opinion: Girlish Number is about a girl who comes a seiyuu (voice actress) but it doesn’t have any type of personality or charm.  Compare this to Sore ga Seiyuu! which was fun and engaging.  This doesn’t look the slightest bit fun or engaging.

Plans for this show: No dice

Idol Memories

Opinion: How is this different than any other female idol anime that’s aired in the last 5 years?

Plans for this show: No dice

Magic-kyun! Renaissance

Opinion: I lasted 3 seconds into that PV… and that was 3 seconds too long.

Plans for this show: No dice

Nanbaka

Opinion: This is one of those comedy anime that are never funny and becomes less funny the harder it tries.

Plans for this show: No dice

Soul Buster

Opinion: It wants to be Hyakka Ryouran Samurai Girls with that stylization and filter, but this is way, way too much.  That and nothing really appeals to be at all in this anime.

Plans for this show: No dice

Soushin Shoujo Matoi (Matoi the Sacred Slayer)

Opinion: This might be the most generic anime of the season.  I’m struggling to find a reason to even consider this given all the other anime sitting above it.

Plans for this show: No dice

Stella no Mahou (Magic of Stella)

Opinion: Stella no Mahou is a 5-girl school club anime about girls who make video games.  There isn’t enough creativity, uniqueness, or substance to pick this up.  Maybe if I were more interested in making video games, but this doesn’t seem like a club that I’d be interested in.

Plans for this show: No dice

Tiger Mask W

Opinion: If this anime really wanted me to watch it, it’d need about 11 or 12 exclamation points in its title.

Plans for this show: No dice

Touken Ranbu: Hanamaru

Opinion: There are like 50 dudes in this.

Plans for this show: No dice

Trickster

Opinion: The PV does nothing for me.  It doesn’t look like a good match for what I want from a mystery anime.

Plans for this show: No dice

ViVid Strike!

Opinion: ViVid Strike! looks rather tame and passive.  There’s no excitement or energy in that PV or from its story.

Plans for this show: No dice

Watashi ga Motete Dousunda (Boys, Please Kiss Him Instead of Me)

Opinion: I hope Kobayashi Yuu gets to be the lead in a watchable anime next season because she’s a fun seiyuu.

Plans for this show: No dice

And that does it for the Autumn 2016 season preview.  I honestly have no idea when I’ll have my first post up regarding the Autumn anime given that my schedule for October is pretty brutal.  Nevertheless, I plan to have more out on this Autumn than I did for the Summer, but the timing for watching anime and writing about anime is a real unknown at this point.

Today is a time to rejoice as we celebrate six years of Avvesione’s Anime Blog.  And while I typically use this post as an excuse to post screenshots of Setsuna from Needless to write about my lessons in anime or blogging from the previous year, I find myself lacking in subjects or ideas that weren’t communicated in years passed.  But I suppose I should consider myself fortunate for reserving the time to pen a post; this is just my fourth post in the last seven months.  Or perhaps more sobering truth of my current situation: in my first 3 years I published exactly 500 posts, whereas in the last 3 years I have only completed 139.

Really, I’d love nothing more than to continue to write about anime and to discuss anime with others, but it’s nearly impossible to find the time these days.  Instead of doing the usual for my anniversary posts, I’ll do what I’ve longed to do these last few months and write about the Autumn 2016 anime season!

This post attempts to summarize my thoughts and opinions on everything I’ve watched to date, including all the shows I’ve dropped or decided to 4x.  This post will review: Shuumatsu no Izetta, WWW.Working!!, Mahou Shoujo Ikusei Keikaku, ViVid Strike!, Tiger Mask W, Trickster, Shakunetsu no Takkyuu Musume, Nobunaga no Shinobi, Mobile Suit Gundam Iron Blooded Orphans S2, Hibike! Euphonium S2, Brave Witches, Yuri!!! on Ice, Flip Flappers, Keijo!!!!!!!!, Drifters, Long Riders!, Girlish Number, Occultic;Nine, 3-gatsu no Lion, Udon no Kuni no Kiniro Kemari, and Stella no Mahou.

Watching:

Shuumatsu no Izetta

The first of many yuri/shoujo ai anime this season, Shuumatsu no Izetta is a decent, albeit shallow, anime about a witch and a princess who fight off a Nazi Germany Germania invasion during the Second World War… or at least that’s what I think it wanted to be.  In reality, Shuumatsu no Izetta is an anime about how a war negatively affects the relationship between a witch and a princess.  It’s a real shame because Shuumatsu no Izetta shines brightest when the story and characterization is about Izetta and Finé, developing these characters and their story about saving their nation.  The anime could do well without all the cookie-cutter WWII fights and Izetta’s trials of using magic to blow up tanks and warships and whatnot.  Too often the series is distracted by these disconnected war scenes that do little to facilitate either character or their story together.  It’s disappointing because without these scenes, and with the focus being placed on Izetta and Finé, the series would’ve been more alluring and interesting.  Nonetheless, the anime is a net positive with remarkable visuals in its backgrounds and an outstanding soundtrack.  However, there were issues with the production quality (especially after the first few episodes) and the fanservice felt out of place most of the time.  Shuumatsu no Izetta was never able to capitalize on its potential but was still a delightful anime for Autumn 2016.

WWW.Working!!

My favorite part about Working!! is that, even though it’s called Working!!, all the skits are about the characters not working.  That and all the relationships in Working!! are not working, either.  Maybe the title is supposed to be interpreted as sarcasm?  Well, whatever it is, WWW.Working!! is a workable comedy that has grown as the season has progressed.  The characters do feel more stiff and one-dimensional compared to the cast of the original Working!!, but Miyakoshi is a phenomenal star, and certainly one of the most unforgettable characters of the year.  Miyakoshi and Higashida do their best to carry this show along and help to keep it as one of the more enjoyable anime this season.

Nobunaga no Shinobi

Cute, chibi and humorous; Nobunaga no Shinobi is a delightful 4-koma short about a ninja girl killing a lot of people… and yeah, that’s about it.  That and you have your typical cast of Sengoku period characters who all have their various jokes and whatnot, but their role is muted compared to the protagonist, Chidori.  It’s a short with appropriate comedy, so it functions well as a relaxing break between regular TV anime.

Hibike! Euphonium S2

Hibike! Euphonium is simply amazing, brilliant, and outstanding.  Its masterful use of dialogue and storytelling allow this anime to weave a complex manifestation of passion, relationships, and their fateful drama to create a compelling and emotional anime that is a pure delight to watch.  Hibike! Euphonium hasn’t missed a beat with this second season and I am thrilled with how this sequel has progressed.  Easily one of my favorite anime of the year, Hibike! Euphonium is deserving of another encore.

Keijo!!!!!!!!

Perhaps the most surprising anime of the season is Keijo!!!!!!!!. There’s no denying that Keijo!!!!!!!! is an ecchi fanservice anime about girls in swimsuits battling with their boobs and butts, but it’s this unequivocally ridiculous premise with its extravagant battles and outlandish attacks that make it genuinely entertaining.  Keijo!!!!!!!! knows how preposterous it is and it’s using this awareness to its advantage.  It understands its style, its humor, and how to maximize entertainment and amusement.  It’s not about a story or characters or a theme or an idea… it just wants to be fun for people to watch and enjoy.  And yes, I am watching and enjoying Keijo!!!!!!!!.  It’s nowhere near the top anime of the season, but Keijo!!!!!!!! is a satisfying anime if you’re looking for over-the-top comedy and an endless display of fanservice.

Brave Witches

Another ecchi anime, Brave Witches is a parallel series to Strike Witches which shares a familiar premise, but features an entirely new cast of characters and an upgrade in the setting, too.  Brave Witches takes place over the frigid, wintery skies of Orussia, and follows the efforts of the slightly more clothed 502nd Joint Fighter Wing as they fend off the Neuroi alien invasion.  The scenario and storytelling and episodic content could be mistaken for Strike Witches as both anime share the same issue of “character of the week” episodic content while forgetting a central storyline beyond fighting “aliens of the week (who just so happen to be weak to whomever the character of the week is)”.  That said, I think I’m enjoying Brave Witches more than Strike Witches because the snowy, Russian landscape kicks ass and I don’t hate as many characters in Brave Witches as I did with Strike Witches.  The fanservice also seems reduced compared to Strike Witches, but it’s hard to quantify when half the characters are in their panties and you still get a dozen pantyshots and whatnot each episode.  Brave Witches is far from great, but I am enjoying this anime for its successful chemistry, adequate fight scenes, gorgeous scenery, and enchanting soundtrack.

Flip Flappers

Flip Flappers has an impressive combination of talent and energy behind it, creating one of the most dazzling, vibrant, and creative anime of the season.  At times, Flip Flappers seems like a pure illusion, what with its distinctive style, vibrant colors, engulfing emotions, and elegant animation.  Where Flip Flappers comes up short, though, is its storytelling and characterization.  Though Papika is a leading character, her development is stagnant or nonexistant and Cocona, the other main character, seems to go through cycles of growth and reset, growth and reset, growth and reset.  And while the story and central theme of the anime is to remain mysterious throughout, I feel that the series stretches itself too long and too thin, almost as if this were originally created to be a movie but then adapted as a TV anime.  To me, Flip Flappers would fit ideally in the runtime and flow of a movie, as it feels too prolonged or extended with not enough to fill the voids when fitted across 13 episodes.  Still, Flip Flappers is one of the most marvelous and fascinating anime of the season, thanks to its visual fiesta and effervescent themes.

3-gatsu no Lion

I feel like I’m missing a significant chunk of 3-gatsu no Lion given that I don’t fully understand shogi.  And if that’s the case, I can’t help but wonder how magnificent this anime truly is.  Even with my understanding that shogi is a lot like chess, 3-gatsu no Lion is a phenomenal anime that centers itself on conflicts on and off the shogi board.  Indeed, this anime emphases themes of uncertainty and family, of depression and friendship, of being alone and not being alone.  And thanks to production by Shaft, 3-gatsu no Lion is a visual treasure in terms of its style, directing, and quality.  3-gatsu no Lion is a powerful anime, both in terms of its aesthetics and themes, and is certainly one of the top anime of the season for me.

Girlish Number

I didn’t anticipate keeping Girlish Number this season given that it’s yet another seiyuu anime, but Girlish Number continued to grow on me with each passing episode.  At first, I thought about 4x’ing it simply as an excuse to save screenshots of Chitose’s amazing facial expressions, but I never found the opportunity to speed through an episode as I was drawn to the stories and personalities and humor.  Eventually, I found myself content to watch Girlish Number for reasons beyond Chitose and, while she’s still the best aspect about this anime, I find myself pleased with watching Girlish Number this season.  Girlish Number is an anime built on excellent chemistry, charming characters, and an easygoing style that makes it a joy to watch.  Another plus is that the anime focuses on the characters and their struggles and conflicts rather than serving as an educational series on the seiyuu industry or anime production or the entertainment industry.  I appreciate what Girlish Number has been able to accomplish and would easily recommend this to anyone looking for some lighthearted drama and carefree comedy.

Mobile Suit Gundam Iron Blooded Orphans S2

Although I am still technically watching Iron Blooded Orphans, my focus and interest in this series have long since faded.  The anime was never able to recover from the middle of the first season when it skipped around with tiring content in space and failed to rekindle my interest with this second season.

4x’ing:

Trickster

Makoto, the only female member of the Detective Boys Club, is the only reason why I’m 4x’ing the series.  Her scenes, though infrequent, are cute and funny and worth the few minutes or so blazing through each episode.  I have a fair understanding of the story and, if given the opportunity, would steer people toward Ranpo Kitan: Game of Laplace if they were interested in any Ranpo anime.

Dropped:

Mahou Shoujo Ikusei Keikaku

Mahou Shoujo Ikusei Keikaku had a decent start and interesting premise, but it felt a bit too manufactured and artificial to be enjoyable.  That and probably laughing at the end of the second episode was probably the wrong reaction from me if I planned on continuing it.

ViVid Strike!

I just couldn’t take any of the fights seriously in this anime, not with this style or these characters.

Tiger Mask W

I stopped watching Tiger Mask W after Naoto suplexed the bear while hanging upside down.  There’s no way the anime could improve after that.  I had to end it at its peak.

Shakunetsu no Takkyuu Musume

With some better comedy and animation quality, I probably would’ve kept Shakunetsu no Takkyuu.  It had some decent elements, but not enough to keep it this season.

Yuri!!! on Ice

I’d still be watching this show if its title was “Yuri O Nice!!!” instead of “Yuri!!! on Ice”.

Drifters

Nothing really worked for me with this, especially the agonizing comedy.

Long Riders!

Nothing went right with Wrong Riders!.

Occultic;Nine

When watching the first episode of Occultic;Nine, I couldn’t focus on anything besides those two huge, gigantic, and obvious issues.  One is that Yuuta was beyond irritating and two was that Ryouka was even worse.  Oh, yes, and the boobs.  How could I forget about the boobs?  Yeah, that’s also a no, but not as egregious as the personalities and dialogue from the two main characters.

Udon no Kuni no Kiniro Kemari

All I can recall from the first episode was being bored.

Stella no Mahou

Stella no Mahou was cute and fun, but lacked the substance and drive to warrant keeping it.  It had a number of positive elements but just couldn’t put it together to make me want to keep it.

Next up, I hope to reserve more time to pen an abbreviate 12 Days of Anime post and complete a final review for 2016, allowing me the opportunity to touch on all the anime I missed writing about this year.  Then again, I had plans that this would be a first impressions post out the first week or so of October and we can see how well that turned out.

If you’re wondering where I’ve been, I hibernated this last winter.  Seriously.

Great, and now that I’ve answered all your questions, let’s dive right into… wait, the Winter 2017 anime season started already?  I guess we can skip the Season Preview and jump right into the First… oh, it’s over now?  Wow, that’s uh… well, better late than never, right?  Anyway, here are my reflections from the recently completed Winter 2017 anime season.

According to my hand scribbles and waning memories from last December, Winter 2017 really didn’t seem all that stimulating or energizing.  In fact, outside of a few sequels, the anime I anticipated the most this season was Hand Shakers, an anime I completely forgot about until 12 seconds ago when I pulled up my old notes.  Thankfully, soothsaying isn’t how I make my living (nor is writing for the internet, thank God), and I found myself fortunate to be gifted with a handful of charming and engaging anime this season.  Combine that with some durable and dependable sequels and Winter 2017 turned out to be an unexpectedly decent season.  Here are my thoughts on each series that I kept over the course of the last 13 weeks:

3-gatsu no Lion

It’s worth noting that I never understanding what the hell was going on when the characters played shogi.  Despite all that, 3-gatsu no Lion was an endearing and remarkable anime about growth and development.  And while I often use those words to describe characters, 3-gatsu no Lion touched on various elements of the characters, ranging from individual to family to community and beyond.  3-gatsu no Lion was more an anime about interpersonal relationships than about shogi.  And while shogi was featured prominently throughout, it was often used as a tool or analogy to describe the relationships between Rei and the network of people around him.  It was a beautiful and robust narrative that knew how to blend in fine quantities of humor to ease the melancholy and anxiety.  I am incredibly pleased with how 3-gatsu no Lion performed these last two seasons, and it will be an anime I dearly miss next month.

Gabriel Dropout

Gabriel Dropout is a magnificent example of my favorite subtype of comedy anime.  With all the variety and diversity of comedy anime, it’s hard to find a classification for which type of comedy is my favorite, but Gabriel Dropout seems to match a number of my favorite elements in comedy anime.  The content and delivery of the humor were supported and strengthened by this phenomenal and brilliant cast.  Not only did the characters excel at their defined roles, but they did so with exceptional chemistry and cohesion thanks in part to the writing and character development.  And this, obviously, can be attributed to the production and directing of Gabriel Dropout, a team and studio that deserve praise for creating one of the most memorable anime of the year.  Of course, this is all based on my opinion as comedies are up to the individual and their response, but this is one of the few anime that genuinely impressed me this season.  Nevertheless, Gabriel Dropout was inspired and carefree throughout, with each episode full of relaxing smiles and heartfelt laughs.  I enthusiastically recommend this anime who is interested in being content with a delightful and charming comedy.

Kobayashi-san no Maid Dragon

Kobayashi-san no Maid Dragon is a loveable and enchanting slice-of-life comedy with captivating characters, dazzling art quality, and a heartwarming narrative on family and friends.  While it does suffer from some hiccups, such as giving more screentime to Lucoa than Elma, the overall anime is an absolute delight and excels at its comedy, charisma, and chemistry.  Maid Dragon ended up being one of my favorites this Winter and is one that I strongly recommend for anyone looking for a gratifying and encouraging comedy anime.

Kono Subarashii Sekai ni Syukufuku o! S2

Kono Subarashii Sekai ni Syukufuku o! is very much a hit-and-miss comedy, and it felt like this season was more misses than hits.  And no, that’s not just on the jokes that were often substandard this season, but even the characterization, stories, and artwork felt like missed opportunities with this sequel.  The first season of KonoSuba was decent, but it laid the foundation for what could be an amusing and reliable fantasy comedy with season two.  Unfortunately for this franchise, it felt like it took a step back with it being content to stay stuck in the starting town with no significant character development or story progression.  Oh well; it is what it is, and KonoSuba 2 is still fun, like the original, but ultimately unfulfilling and really unable to capitalize on its amazing potential.

Little Witch Academia (TV)

Bewitched and spellbound, I watch Little Witch Academia and wonder if this is an anime with real magic. Little Witch Academia is a phenomenal display of creativity, imagination, and passion. Luna Nova and its history of witchcraft provide a genuinely rich and vibrant setting that acts as the foundation for its enthusiastic and inspired stories.  It’s an artistic and alluring series, too, with vivid colors and detailed costumes and exceptional animation.  And one my objection with the original two OVA, about the lack of depth and dimension in its characters, has been alleviated as the series has taken time to acknowledge and celebrate its cast around Atsuko.  Simply put, Little Witch Academia is as interesting as it is fun, and it comes out as the champion of this Winter season in my opinion.  I am looking forward to continuing this series and seeing how it performs against the numerous heavyweight sequels of the Spring 2017 anime season.

Masamune-kun no Revenge

In English, ‘romance’ often means ‘love’, ‘obsession’, or ‘intimate relationship’, or something along those lines.  In anime, however, ‘romance’ means ‘reset’ or ‘no progress’.  And, well, yeah… that’s what we got.  It started off with a scenario in the first episode and almost immediately sputtered into the vicious cycle of non-stories about unnecessary side-characters and, after an entire series, finally remembered what it was about for 2-3 seconds before resetting again.  I think romance anime are more afraid about commitment to an actual relationship than I am about updating this blog regularly.  Anyway, aside from my gripe of the story, the anime is serviceable at worst and mediocre at best.  The characters and comedy are fun more often than their not thanks to an uncommon and bitter rapport between Masamune and Aki and Yoshino.  Other than that, I don’t have much else to say about Masamune-kun no Revenge, either positive or negative.

Mobile Suit Gundam: Iron-Blooded Orphans S2

Gundam IBO had a great beginning and an even better finale, but everything else in the middle was… unnecessary?  Had Gundam IBO been more focused and concise series, perhaps a 12-episode or maybe up to a 24-episode series, I would have enjoyed the series because it had some moments of brilliance in its story and characters.  But no, the franchise ended up being 50 episodes with many of the episodes lacking and stretching the story too thin.  I stayed with the series, but I lost interest during the never-ending space trip in the first season and only regained my interest during the final few episodes.

Nobunaga no Shinobi S2

Always chibi.  Often cute.  Sometimes funny.  Rarely accurate historically.  Never a dull episode.

Shouwa Genroku Rakugo Shinjuu S2

Shouwa Genroku Rakugo Shinjuu is a challenging series for me.  I adore the historical setting and its dedication to rakugo as a unifying art form that connected so many characters.  The art and animation were a pronounced and constant quality.  And the voice acting?  A true example to the weight and significance voice acting has to anime.  So where did it all go wrong for me?  The two main culprits were the characters and the storytelling.  I can’t pinpoint where it went wrong, but I always felt disconnected or empty with the characters.  Or, at the very least, there wasn’t that same chemistry or engagement like with Yakumo and Sukeroku growing together as rakugo declined in the previous season.  I enjoyed Konatsu as a character but never associated with Yotarou or any of the other “new” characters.  The other grievance I have was that the storytelling lacked enthusiasm and energy.  Perhaps this is merely symptom manifest of the first complaint, but a majority of episodes felt lethargic, save for Konatsu’s performance of “Jugemu”, the highlight of the season for me (and a reason why I think criticism #2 may be downstream of criticism #1).  It’s a shame that I didn’t enjoy this season as much as the first, but it did provide a beautiful ending to a faithful and dedicated story.

Trickster

Yes, I kept Trickster, and yes, I still recommend Ranpo Kitan: Game of Laplace over Trickster as the preferred Ranpo anime.  But that said, Ranpo Kitan doesn’t have Makoto Noro, who is easily the best thing about Trickster.  So if you want to watch an anime with Makoto Noro, you’d have to watch Trickster and not Ranpo Kitan, and I’m pretty sure that’s the primary reason why Trickster exists.

Youjo Senki

Overall, I enjoyed watching Youjo Senki, but the details I remember most vividly about this anime are two negative aspects that dominated my watching and always seemed to overshadow everything else.  First, the anime focused way too much on developing the war and the battles than it did about Tanya.  Tanya certainly had significant roles in these battles, demonstrating her cunning and aptitude, but it was ultimately about progressing the war through Tanya’s tactics rather than progressing her character through growth as a person.  The point of the anime was for Being X to test a Japanese Salaryman but in reality, the experiment of seeing what would happen if you took a Japanese salaryman from 2013, put him in a magical girl’s body and placed her in World War I was what won in the end.  And that leads right into the other criticism which is that the entire war felt amiss.  Youjo Senki wanted magical mages flying around the skies in WWI, which is fine, but failed to understand how it would change the war.  What Youjo Senki did is it took mages and placed them into WWI, and what Youjo Senki gave us was flying mages that no one really knew how to fight.  What Youjo Senki should have done was ask, “how would the existence of mages affected WWI?”, and what Youjo Senki should’ve done was show battles with WWII tactics (knowledge and understanding of how to use air in war) with WWI technologies.  Why?  Because the mages existed for thousands of years in this settling and aren’t a new technology like airplanes were in WWI.  Anyway, despite all that, Youjo Senki was distinctive and entertaining and certainly one of the most unique anime in recent memory.